2017 U.S. Health Care Costs For Dementia Expected To Total $259 Billion

In 2017, the total estimated cost of medical and long-term care for Americans with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is estimated to reach $259 billion. Two-thirds of that sum, $175 billion, is the cost to Medicare and Medicaid, about 68% of the total costs. In 2015, total medical and long-term costs were estimated at $226 billion. Medicare and Medicaid were expected to cover $153 billion, also about 68% of the total costs.

About 5.5 million Americans are estimated to have Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017. Of those, the vast majority — 5.3 million — are . . .