Federal Health Care Spending Exceeded Social Security Spending For The First Time In 2015

In federal fiscal year 2015, federal spending on health care programs totaled $936 billion; Social Security spending totaled $882 billion. This is the first time, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), that federal health care spending has been higher than Social Security spending.

The health care outlays include Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and subsidies offered through health insurance exchanges and related spending. Spending for Medicare is presented net of premium payments. The $936 billion spent in 2015 was 13% higher ($105 billion) than the previous year.

The Social Security outlays included retirement benefits through . . .