How much money is currently paid out yearly to health insurance companies in premiums?

[Better Believe It]

Is there any information available on this?

If anyone finds estimates or hard data answering this question please provide the link.

Thanks!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Read all the annual statements from all the health insurers. Take the revenue from premiums and add

it up.

[Better Believe It]

7. Well, that's one way to find out. I'm sure that someone has already done this.

I just hope someone can find the results of that research and will post it on DU.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. This covers the worth of the industry...

SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY
The United States of America has one of the largest medical and healthcare industries in the world, followed by Switzerland and Germany. The USA's medical industry comprises of more than 750,000 physicians and 5,200 hospitals. USA witnesses approximately 3.8 million inpatient visits and 20 million outpatients visit on a daily basis. Furthermore, the United States of America has the largest workforce i.e. one in every 11 US residents employed in the health care business.

The Global prescription drug market was $550 billion in the year 2006. Also, the total health care expenditures across the world were $4.5 trillion last year. Of which, US solely account for $ 2.2 trillion, $ 2 trillion in OECD countries and remaining $ 0.3 in other countries of the world. Learn about the challenges for the medical industry in the article '2009 Financial Crisis: Top 9 Issues for Health Industries.'

2.2 trillion dolalrs in expenditures here in the U.S. alone. Not exaclty what you want, but there it is.

[Better Believe It]

4. Almost half the entire world expenditures are made in the United States!

That's incredible.

Well, I hope someone can find the information on the premiums paid to the health insurance industry.

[guitar man]

3. it has to be a crapload

I'm paying $514 a month and that's only 30% of the total premium, the company pays the other 70%. And this is for 3 people, myself, my wife and my daughter...

[Better Believe It]

6. I'm guessing over a trillion. Probably enough to cover single payer Medicare for All

[guitar man]

10. It wouldn't surprise me

It might be higher than that. All I know is it's killing me to pay what I'm paying on a $34k a year salary. :(

[sakabatou]

5. Too much.

[leftstreet]

8. Must be a cash cow...Aetna's CEO Williams made $24 million in 2008

Ron Williams - Aetna

Total Compensation: $24,300,112

Details: Williams earned $24,300,112 in total compensation for 2008, with more than half of that ($13,537,365) coming from option awards. He also received an additional $6,456,630 in stock awards to go along with his base salary of $1,091,764. 

Personal use of a corporate aircraft and vehicle, as well as financial planning and 401(k) company matches added up to $101,487 for Williams. 

http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/aetnas-ron-williams-ceo-compensation/2009-05-14

Kick for answers

[guitar man]

11. grrrr

no wonder my damn premiums are so high :grr:

[Cleita]

9. Physicians for a National Health Plan has all kinds of stats in their archives.

I remember reading something about what we as a nation spend in insurance premiums there but don't have time to look it up for you. That website is a very good source for all kinds of information related to health care. www.pnhp.org

[Better Believe It]

12. I've looked there before but I'll try again.

[Cleita]

13. Sometimes information is buried. Use the search function to get at

the articles in their archives.

[Cleita]

14. Here's a study with graphs that pretty much answers your question.

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/myths_memes.pdf

It's a little dated but should point you in the right direction.

[Better Believe It]

15. Thanks for your help.

I'll look this information over tomorrow.