Health Care Spending Still Outpaces Inflation

In 2006, health care spending in the United States reached $2.1 trillion, or $7,026 per person, according to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS. The amount represents a slight increase over the amount spent in 2005, for an increase of 6.7 percent. In 2005, health care spending increased 6.5 percent, which was the slowest growth rate increase since 1999.

Although the growth was not substantial, it outpaced overall economic growth, which was measured at 6.1 percent in 2006, and inflation, at 3.2 percent. As a proportion of the nation's gross domestic product, a slight increase (.1 percent) was noted by CMS for a total of 16 percent of the GDP.

The CMS health care spending data measurement details can be viewed at the CMS Web site.