The health bill for the average American family is $7,739 this year with costs rising at a clip that will push the annual tab past $14,500 by the turn of the century, a consumer group says.
That's the conclusion of a study released Monday that calculated what families and businesses spend on health care both directly and indirectly through the tax system.The health bill for each American family has tripled since 1980 when it was $2,590, according to a Families USA Foundation report drawn from newly released federal figures.
The $7,739 family bill counts everything individuals pay for health care - from doctor bills and insurance premiums to aspirin and bandages. Families bear two-thirds of these expenses ($5,190) and businesses the rest ($2,549).
The study said the average Utah family paid $7,824 in 1993. It ranked Utah 13th highest in the nation.
The private group, which supports universal health care and has been an active backer of the Clinton administration plan, said the numbers make a compelling case for health reform.
The Clinton administration stirred a furor recently when it revealed at least 30 percent of Americans would pay more for in-sur-ance under its plan.
But this study says everybody will be paying a lot more unless something is done.