Federal Government Health Programs Spending

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SOURCE: Table 15.1 "Outlays For Health Programs" from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Historical Tables at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals.

NOTE: Listed below (under the findings) are the summary data for 25 selected years for the federal government health programs spending from 1962 through 2016. 

The findings from an analysis of the federal government health programs spending data are listed next.

1. Federal Medicaid spending began in 1962.

2. Federal Medicare spending began in 1966.

3. Total federal government health programs spending as a percentage of all federal on-budget and off-budget outlays first crossed the 5% threshold in 1968, the 10% threshold in 1977, the 15% threshold in 1991, the 20% threshold in 1995, the 25% threshold in 2007, and the 30% threshold in 2015.

4. Total federal government health programs spending as a percentage of gross domestic product first crossed the 1% threshold in 1968, the 2% threshold in 1976, the 3% threshold in 1990, the 4% threshold in 1995, the 5% threshold in 2007, and the 6% threshold in 2010.

5. Total federal government health programs spending had grown to 31.6% of all federal budget outlays and 6.6% of gross domestic product in 2016.

6. The total federal government health programs spending had grown to $1.2188 trillion in 2016, and was distributed as follows: 49% Medicare, 30% Medicaid, 5% Veterans Medical Care, 4% Defense Health Program, 3% Health Insurance Assistance, and 9% Other Health.

2016 Fiscal Year
 $  594.5 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $  368.3 billion Medicaid
 $    65.2 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $    47.7 billion Defense Health Program
-$      0.6 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    30.9 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  112.8 billion Other Health
 $1.2188 trillion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(31.6% of all federal budget outlays)
(6.6% of gross domestic product)

2015 Fiscal Year
$  546.2 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$  349.8 billion Medicaid
$    61.9 billion Veterans Medical Care
$    48.0 billion Defense Health Program
$      0.5 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$    27.3 billion Health Insurance Assistance
$  104.7 billion Other Health
$1.1384 trillion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(30.9% of all federal budget outlays)  
(6.4% of gross domestic product)

2014 Fiscal Year
 $  511.7 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $  301.5 billion Medicaid
 $    56.2 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $    48.9 billion Defense Health Program
-$      0.2 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    13.7 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $    94.4 billion Other Health
 $1.0262 trillion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(29.3% of all federal budget outlays)
(6.0% of gross domestic product)

2013 Fiscal Year
 $497.8 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $265.4 billion Medicaid
 $  52.5 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  46.7 billion Defense Health Program
-$    2.1 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    2.4 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  92.7 billion Other Health
 $955.4 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(27.7% of all federal budget outlays)
(5.8% of gross domestic product)

2012 Fiscal Year
 $471.8 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $250.5 billion Medicaid
 $  50.6 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  53.3 billion Defense Health Program
-$    2.1 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    3.8 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  94.5 billion Other Health
 $922.4 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(26.1% of all federal budget outlays)
(5.8% of gross domestic product)

2011 Fiscal Year
 $485.6 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $275.0 billion Medicaid
 $  50.1 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  52.6 billion Defense Health Program
-$    3.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    5.8 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  94.7 billion Other Health
 $960.8 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(26.7% of all federal budget outlays)
(6.2% of gross domestic product)

2010 Fiscal Year
 $451.7 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $272.8 billion Medicaid
 $  45.7 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  49.8 billion Defense Health Program
-$    0.8 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    4.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  93.1 billion Other Health
 $916.4 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(26.5% of all federal budget outlays)
(6.2% of gross domestic product)

2009 Fiscal Year
$430.1 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$250.9 billion Medicaid
$  41.9 billion Veterans Medical Care
$  46.6 billion Defense Health Program
$    0.2 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$    0.4 billion Health Insurance Assistance
$  82.8 billion Other Health
$852.9 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(24.2% of all federal budget outlays)
(5.9% of gross domestic product)

2008 Fiscal Year
$390.8 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$201.4 billion Medicaid
$ 37.0 billion Veterans Medical Care
$ 43.4 billion Defense Health Program
$ 0.3 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$ 0.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
$ 78.7 billion Other Health
$751.7 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(25.2% of all federal budget outlays)
(5.1% of gross domestic product)

2007 Fiscal Year
 $375.4 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $190.6 billion Medicaid
 $  32.3 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  42.7 billion Defense Health Program
-$    1.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    0.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  76.7 billion Other Health
 $716.8 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(26.3% of all federal budget outlays)
(5.0% of gross domestic product)

2006 Fiscal Year
 $329.9 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $180.6 billion Medicaid
 $  29.9 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  38.0 billion Defense Health Program
-$    2.2 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    0.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  74.3 billion Other Health
 $650.6 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(24.5% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.8% of gross domestic product)

2005 Fiscal Year
 $298.7 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $181.7 billion Medicaid
 $  28.8 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  36.1 billion Defense Health Program
-$   1.7 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    0.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  70.5 billion Other Health
 $614.2 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(24.8% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.8% of gross domestic product)

2004 Fiscal Year
 $269.4 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $176.2 billion Medicaid
 $  26.9 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  32.1 billion Defense Health Program
-$   1.7 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $    0.1 billion Health Insurance Assistance
 $  65.5 billion Other Health
 $568.5 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(24.8% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.7% of gross domestic product)

2003 Fiscal Year
 $249.5 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $160.7 billion Medicaid
 $  24.1 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  29.4 billion Defense Health Program
-$   1.4 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  60.3 billion Other Health
 $522.6 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(24.2% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.6% of gross domestic product)

2002 Fiscal Year
 $230.8 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $147.5 billion Medicaid
 $  22.3 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  22.8 billion Defense Health Program
-$   0.9 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  49.9 billion Other Health
 $472.4 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(23.5% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.3% of gross domestic product)

2001 Fiscal Year
 $217.4 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $129.4 billion Medicaid
 $  21.0 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  18.4 billion Defense Health Program
-$    0.7 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  43.5 billion Other Health
 $429.0 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(23.0% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.1% of gross domestic product)

2000 Fiscal Year
 $197.1 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $117.9 billion Medicaid
 $  19.5 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  17.8 billion Defense Health Program
-$    0.1 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  36.7 billion Other Health
 $388.9 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(21.7% of all federal budget outlays)
(3.8% of gross domestic product)

1995 Fiscal Year
 $159.9 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $  89.1 billion Medicaid
 $  16.4 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  15.4 billion Defense Health Program
-$    0.3 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  26.7 billion Other Health
 $307.2 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(20.3% of all federal budget outlays)
(4.0% of gross domestic product)

1990 Fiscal Year
 $  98.1 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $  41.1 billion Medicaid
 $  12.1 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $  12.4 billion Defense Health Program
-$    1.2 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  17.8 billion Other Health
 $180.3 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(14.4% of all federal budget outlays)
(3.0% of gross domestic product)

1985 Fiscal Year
 $  65.8 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
 $  22.7 billion Medicaid
 $    9.5 billion Veterans Medical Care
 $    8.2 billion Defense Health Program
-$    0.3 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
 $  11.2 billion Other Health
 $117.1 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(12.4% of all federal budget outlays)
(2.7% of gross domestic product)

1980 Fiscal Year
$32.1 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$14.0 billion Medicaid
$ 6.5 billion Veterans Medical Care
$ 3.7 billion Defense Health Program
$ 0.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$ 9.2 billion Other Health
$65.5 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(11.1% of all federal budget outlays)
(2.3% of gross domestic product)

1975 Fiscal Year
$12.9 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$ 6.8 billion Medicaid
$ 3.7 billion Veterans Medical Care
$ 0.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$ 6.1 billion Other Health
$29.5 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(8.9% of all federal budget outlays)
(1.8% of gross domestic product)

1970 Fiscal Year
$ 6.2 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$ 2.7 billion Medicaid
$ 1.8 billion Veterans Medical Care
$ 0.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$ 3.2 billion Other Health
$13.9 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(7.1% of all federal budget outlays)
(1.3% of gross domestic product)

1966 Fiscal Year
$0.1 billion Medicare (net of premiums)
$0.8 billion Medicaid
$1.3 billion Veterans Medical Care
$0.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$1.8 billion Other Health
$4.0 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(2.9% of all federal budget outlays)
(0.5% of gross domestic product)

1962 Fiscal Year
$0.1 billion Medicaid
$1.1 billion Veterans Medical Care
$0.0 billion Federal Employees Health Benefits (gross outlays less income)
$1.1 billion Other Health
$2.3 billion TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OUTLAYS
(2.1% of all federal budget outlays)
(0.4% of gross domestic product)

Watchdog Vigilance Home Page Health Care Policies Pertinent Historical Data National Health Expenditures National Debt History Medicare Expansion (ME)

This page was last updated on 08/15/17.