Chronic conditions and medical expenditures among non-institutionalized adults in the United States

INTRODUCTION: This study sought to examine medical expenditures among non-institutionalized adults in the United States with one or more chronic conditions. METHOD: Using data from the 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component (HC), we explored total and out-of-pocket medical, hospital, physician office, and prescription drug expenditures for non-institutionalized adults 18 and older with and without chronic conditions. We examined relationships between expenditure differences and predisposing, enabling, and need factors using recent, nationally representative data. RESULTS: Individuals with chronic conditions experienced higher total spending than those with no chronic conditions, even after controlling for confounding factors. This relationship persisted with age. Out-of-pocket spending trends mirrored total expenditure trends across health care categories. Additional population characteristics that were associated with high health care expenditures were race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance status, and education. CONCLUSIONS: The high costs associated with having one or more chronic conditions indicates a need for more robust interventions to target population groups who are most at risk.