CO Health Care Costs Increased 139% in Prior Ten Years

Colorado’s health care spending rose 139% from 2013 to 2022 to nearly $30 billion, reports Public News Service. Driven by rising private health insurance premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs, and prescription drug costs. Between 2013 and 2022, the amount of medicine prescribed to patients increased by 10%, while drug costs rose by 151%. Simultaneously, out-of-pocket expenses for residents enrolled in Medicare Advantage increased approximately 80%, while the cost of outpatient visits increased by approximately 51%.