The 15 Most Expensive Medical Conditions

Menstuff® has compiled the following information on the cost of medical conditions.

The 15 Most Expensive Medical Conditions


Researchers analyzed the cost of healthcare for some of the most common medical problems and came up with the top 15 costliest conditions. Osteoarthritis makes the cut at No. 9; can you guess what tops the list?
Source: my.webmd.com/content/article/62/71596.htm

Treating heart disease cost Americans $58 billion in 1997, making it the single most expensive item on the country's health care bill, followed by cancer, trauma, and mental disorders.

In a new report, researchers analyzed the cost of health care for some of the most common medical problems and came up with the top 15 costliest conditions for the 1997 calendar year. They found that although lung disorders like asthma affected the most Americans (41 million), the cost of treating lung conditions only ranked fifth on the list at $29 billion.

In comparison, the 17 million people diagnosed with heart disease spent $58 billion, 9 million cancer patients spent $46 billion, 37 million who suffered a traumatic injury spent $44 billion, and 20 million with mental disorders shelled out $30 billion.

Not surprising, researchers say the study found that many of the conditions in the top 15 are chronic diseases that require long-term care. Their findings appear in the current issue of Health Affairs.

Rounding out the top 15 were the following conditions (listed with their annual associated price tag and number of Americans affected):

Condition

Cost
People Affected
Cost/Person

Diabetes

$20 billion

10 million

$2,000

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

$18 billion

27 million

$667

Stroke-related conditions

$16 billion

2 million

$8,000

Osteoarthritis

$16 billion

16 million

$1,000

Pneumonia

$16 billion

4 million

$4,000

Back problems

$13 billion

13 million

$1,000

Kidney disease

$10 billion

2 million

$5,000

Endocrine disorders

$10 billion

18 million

$556

Skin disorders

$9 billion

20 million

$450

Infectious diseases

$6 billion

16 million

$375

Researchers Joel W. Cohen and Nancy A. Krauss at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality say private insurance paid for about 35% of the expenses for the top five conditions, and Medicare covered nearly 45% of heart disease expenses, 20-25% of cancer costs, and 16% of expenses related to treating mental disorders.

Out-of-pocket expenses were highest for high blood pressure, for which sufferers paid about 30% of their own costs -- largely due to prescription drug expenses.
Source: Jennifer Warner, Health Affairs, Vol. 22 No. 2, 2003

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