2. Key Findings
• Connecticut residents spend more on health care than most Americans, but our costs are growing much more slowly. At
1.8%, Connecticut’s average annual growth rate from 2013 through 2019 was lower than all but eight other states. In
2014, Connecticut was seventh highest in per person spending, but dropped to eleventh by 2019.
• Connecticut’s average spending growth was high before the 2008/2009 recession, but it has slowed since and maintained
slower growth. The ACA didn’t change the rate of growth.
• Connecticut spending is almost evenly divided between private, Medicaid, Medicare, and out-of-pocket spending. All
Connecticut payers experienced modest growth in per person healthcare spending from 2003 to 2019.
• Medicare led Connecticut in spending growth from 2003 to 2019. Unlike prior years, Medicaid cost growth is ahead of
private plans.
• Implementation of the Affordable Care Act reduced growth in per person Medicaid, Medicare, and out of pocket spending,
but increased growth in private spending.
• Hospital spending is the largest portion of Connecticut spending, followed by physician/clinical care, and drugs.
• Between 2006 and 2019, Connecticut hospital costs grew faster than other service areas and were the main contributor to
rising costs in Connecticut.
• From 2003 to 2019, Connecticut’s spending has risen less than New York, New Jersey, or New Hampshire, and equaled
Massachusetts’ rate.
• Connecticut’s spending growth by payer is different than comparator states – lower for private plans and out of pocket
costs, but unlike prior years, higher for Medicaid.
• Recently, Connecticut spending on hospitals has grown faster than most comparator states, while, unlike in the past, drug
spending has grown more slowly.
CT Health Policy Project 2
3. Per person health spending, all states
CT Health Policy Project 3
Key Findings
Connecticut
residents spend
more on health
care than most
Americans, but
our costs are
growing more
slowly.
In 2014,
Connecticut was
seventh highest
in per person
spending, but
dropped to
eleventh by
2019.
4. CT per person spending, total
CT Health Policy Project 4
Key Findings
Connecticut
average per
person
healthcare
spending rose
from $8,680 in
2003 to $11,571
in 2019. The
ACA didn’t
change the rate
of growth.
5. Total CT per person spending, annual growth rate
CT Health Policy Project 5
Key Findings
Growth in
Connecticut per
person
spending was
high before the
2008/2009
recession. It has
slowed since
and maintained
slower growth.
6. CT per person spending, by payer
2019
CT Health Policy Project 6
Key Findings
Connecticut per
person average
spending is
almost evenly
divided
between
private,
Medicaid,
Medicare, and
out-of-pocket
spending.
Note: Out of pocket spending includes other public insurers such as Veterans Affairs and the Indian
Health Service
7. CT per person spending, by payer
CT Health Policy Project 7
Key Findings
All Connecticut
payers
experienced
modest growth
in per person
healthcare
spending from
2003 to 2019.
8. CT per person, average annual growth rate
by payer, 2005 - 2019
CT Health Policy Project 8
Key Findings
Medicare leads
Connecticut in
per person
healthcare
spending
growth. Unlike
prior years,
Medicaid cost
growth is ahead
of private plans.
Note: Out of pocket spending includes other public insurers such as Veterans Affairs and the Indian
Health Service
9. CT per person health, average annual growth rate
pre and post ACA expansion
by payer
CT Health Policy Project 9
Key Findings
Implementation
of the
Affordable Care
Act reduced
growth in per
person
Medicaid,
Medicare, and
out of pocket
spending, but
increased
growth in
private
spending.
Note: Out of pocket spending includes other public insurers such as Veterans Affairs and the Indian
Health Service
10. CT per person spending, by service
2019
CT Health Policy Project 10
Key Findings
Hospital spending
is the largest
portion of
Connecticut per
person health
spending,
followed by
physician/clinical
care, and drugs.
11. CT per person spending, average annual
growth rate, by service
2006 - 2019
CT Health Policy Project 11
Key Findings
Between 2006
and 2019,
Connecticut
hospital per
person costs
grew faster than
other service
areas.
12. Contributions to CT per person spending growth
2005 to 2019
CT Health Policy Project 12
Key Findings
Between 2005
and 2019,
hospital services
were the main
contributor to
rising per
person
healthcare costs
in Connecticut.
13. Per capita spending, total, 2019
Comparator states
CT Health Policy Project 13
Key Findings
Connecticut’s
per person
healthcare
spending is
comparable to
similar states.
14. Per person spending, total
Comparator states
CT Health Policy Project 14
Key Findings
From 2003 to
2019,
Connecticut’s
per person
healthcare
spending has
risen less than
Massachusetts,
New York, New
Jersey, or New
Hampshire.
15. Per person average annual growth rate
Total spending, comparator states, 2003 to 2019
CT Health Policy Project 15
Key Findings
Connecticut’s
per person
healthcare
spending
growth rate is
better than
comparator
states but
Rhode Island
and equal to
Massachusetts.
16. Per person spending, by payer
Comparator states, 2019
CT Health Policy Project 16
Key Findings
Like most
comparator
states,
Connecticut per
person health
spending is
higher for
private coverage
than
government
programs and
out of pocket
payments.
Note: Out of pocket spending includes other public insurers such as Veterans Affairs and the Indian
Health Service
17. Per person spending, average annual growth
Comparator states, by payer, 2003 to 2019
CT Health Policy Project 17
Key Findings
Connecticut
growth in per
person spending
is different than
comparator
states – lower for
private plans and
out of pocket
costs, but unlike
prior years,
higher for
Medicaid.
Note: Out of pocket spending includes other public insurers such as Veterans Affairs and the Indian
Health Service
18. Per person spending, average annual growth rate
Comparator states, 2005 to 2019
CT Health Policy Project 18
Key Findings
Recently,
Connecticut per
person
spending on
hospitals has
grown faster
than most
comparator
states, while,
unlike in the
past, drug
spending has
grown more
slowly.
19. CT Health Policy Project 19
This month, researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington
released their calculations of per person healthcare spending by state from 2003 through 2019. The
researchers used the sources used by HHS’s National Health Accounts, identified all their sources, and tested
368,640 models. The calculations include per person spending by state -- total, by payer, and by service.
The CT Health Policy Project’s analysis of the data focuses on health spending in Connecticut over time
compared to nearby states with similar average per person incomes to provide insight into how resources are
used and to support informed policymaking.
E Johnson, et. al., Varied Health Spending Growth Across US States Was Associated With Incomes, Price Levels,
And Medicaid Expansion, 2000–19, Health Affairs, 41: 1088-1097, August 2022
Varied health spending growth across US states was associated with income, price levels, and Medicaid
expansion, 2000-19, Press Release and data download available, August 1, 2022, IHME, University of
Washington
Methodology and Sources:
20. 20
Previous healthcare spending chartbooks from the CT Health Policy Project
Chartbook: Prescription Drugs Driving CT Health Costs Across Payers
Blog and Chartbook
March 2018
Chartbook: CT Drug Costs High and Growing Fast
Blog and Chartbook
November 2017
Connecticut Health Policy Project
www.cthealthpolicy.org
