Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association Publishes Sixth Annual Medical Cost Reference Guide

New edition shows U.S. spent nearly $2.3 trillion, more than 16 percent of Gross Domestic Product, on healthcare in 2007

March 25, 2008

CHICAGO – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) today released the 2008 Medical Cost Reference Guide (MCRG), an annual publication that examines national trends impacting healthcare costs, quality and access.  The MCRG provides objective information using research available from BCBSA and leading government, academic, and business sources.

"This year's guide provides a snapshot of major trends affecting healthcare quality and affordability in our nation," said Scott P. Serota, president and chief executive officer of BCBSA.  "With all the challenges facing our healthcare system today, this guide helps provide timely and relevant knowledge to create a system that is more affordable, effective and accessible to everyone."

This year's publication covers topics such as international and national health spending, trends in health insurance coverage, the uninsured, consumer healthcare costs, prescription drug spending, and chronic illness.

The guide is organized into five key areas:  Healthcare Financing Trends; Health Insurance Coverage; Engaging and Empowering Consumers; Collaborating with Providers; and Expanding Access to Quality and Affordable Care.  The MCRG also provides information on health statistics, cost and utilization information.

Trends highlighted in the MCRG include:

• U.S. spent nearly $2.3 trillion, more than 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, on healthcare in 2007.
• Healthcare is the largest sector of the U.S. economy and accounts for nearly 20 percent of the U.S. government budget.
• Since 2002, the number of uninsured has increased among all income levels and more than 50 percent of uninsured Americans cannot afford coverage.
• As a percentage of total expenditures, consumers are spending more on healthcare, and healthcare spending is increasing across all income levels in both absolute and percentage terms.
• The leading causes of death are also the most costly.  In 2004, over 147 million people had one of the five most costly conditions, costing more than $311 billion.
• There are as many as 75,000 avoidable deaths each year, totaling as much as $3.7 billion in avoidable hospital costs.

The guide is searchable online at http://www.bcbs.com/betterknowledge/mcrg/.  For a hard copy of the guide, please use our order form.