Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: December 17, 2019

The National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA) are the official estimates of total health care spending in the United States. Dating back to 1960, the NHEA measures annual U.S. expenditures for health care goods and services, public health activities, government administration, the net cost of health insurance, and investment related to health care. The data are presented by type of service, sources of funding, and type of sponsor.

U.S. health care spending grew 7.5 percent in 2023, reaching $4.9 trillion or $14,570 per person.  As a share of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 17.6 percent.

For additional information, see below.

Thank you for your interest in National Health Expenditure Account data. 

Every 5 years the National Health Statistics Group in CMS conducts a comprehensive review and revision of the National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA). We are currently soliciting input on ways to improve the measurement and reporting of the NHE. Please email your suggestions to CMSDNHS@cms.hhs.gov.

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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.