- Medicare spending, which represented 20 percent of national health spending in 2014, grew 5.5 percent to $618.7 billion, a faster increase than the 3.0 percent growth in 2013. The 2014 rate of growth was driven by increased spending growth for retail prescription drugs and in Medicare Advantage. Per-enrollee spending increased by 2.4 percent. Average growth in per-enrollee spending was 7.0 percent from 2000-2009.
- Medicaid spending accounted for 16 percent of total spending on health and grew 11.0 percent in 2014 to $495.8 billion, a faster increase than the 5.9 percent growth in 2013. Medicaid growth in 2014 was driven by coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act, as 26 states plus the District of Columbia provided coverage for individuals with incomes of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. An estimated 6.3 million newly eligible enrollees were added to Medicaid in 2014. Per-enrollee spending decreased by 2.0 percent.
