U.S. Health Care Costs Grow 5% in 2011

During 2011, the average per capita cost growth for health care services covered by Medicare and commercial health plans increased by 5.11% between October 2010 and September 2011. Commercial insurance health care costs increased by 6.91% during the period and Medicare costs increased by 2.39%. The growth rate data were released by S&P Indices for the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Healthcare Economic Composite Index. The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index includes weighted averages for hospital and professional services revenues in the S&P Healthcare Economic Commercial Index and the . . .