Read the full report at JAMA
In 2023, our team published “The Economic Burden of Racial, Ethnic, and Educational Health Inequities in the US”. Download and read the report on JAMA.com below.
Racial and Ethnic Health Report
What is the cost to the US economy of socioeconomic health inequities?
The economic burden in this category ranges from $421-$451 billion. Most of these inequities exist due to the exposure to economic, social, structural, and environmental risks and their healthcare access. The report measures the sum of excess medical care costs, lost labor market productivity, and excess premature death (before age 78) costs by race and ethnicity compared to health equity goals.
Socioeconomic Health Report
What is the cost to the US economy of socioeconomic health inequities?
The Socioeconomic Health Report found that the costs of socioeconomic health inequities are $940-$978 billion. Most of these costs were attributed to adults with a high school diploma. However, a disproportionate share of the expenses was attributed to adults with less than a high school education. The study was conducted to estimate the economic burden of socioeconomic health inequities in the US. The measures included excess medical care costs, lost labor market productivity, and excess premature death costs.
Download the 2008 study
In 2008, our team published a study entitled “The Economic Burden of Health Inequalities in the United States” that formed the preliminary basis for the 2018 studies above. Download and read this earlier report below.