(Un)Insured in America

Sicko. The film focuses on Americans whose lives have been affected by the health care industry. He compares the United States to other countries where citizens receive free medical benefits. In 2004 personal health care expenditures in the United States totaled 1.6 trillion dollars, as illustrated by this graph. Hospital care and physician services account for more than half of expenditures. Drug expenditures have doubled since 1980 due to the increasing contribution of prescription drugs to health care services. Private health insurance paid for 36% of total personal health expenditures; the federal government, 34%; local and state governments, 10.5% and out of pocket payments, 15%.]]>