Status of Healthcare Costs for Arizonans
Relative Cost of Arizona Healthcare is measured in two ways: (1) Arizona’s spending per capita on healthcare (i.e., the total amount of spending on healthcare in Arizona, divided by the total population); and (2) the percentage of Arizonans who reported they did not seek medical treatment in the past year due to cost, as compared to the nation as a whole.
What are Health Costs?
Arizona is a state with relatively low per-person healthcare costs when compared to the nation as a whole. Some sources indicate that, on average, 10% of Americans’ incomes are spent on healthcare. For Arizona businesses, these lower per-person costs result in lower costs for employee healthcare. While this is positive for business, it may also be an indicator of Arizonans’ reluctance to pay for healthcare or their lack of sufficient income to easily afford healthcare. Even for those with insurance, cost is a factor, since deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses affect their decision whether to seek medical treatment or to live with injuries, sickness, and other medical conditions.
How Would Arizonans Benefit from Decreased Health Costs?
Decreased healthcare costs in Arizona would make medical services more affordable for individuals and families, reducing financial strain and improving access to care. It would allow more people to seek preventive services, leading to better health outcomes and fewer expensive emergency treatments. Lower healthcare costs would also ease the burden on businesses, potentially lowering premiums for employers and increasing job satisfaction. Overall, it would contribute to a healthier population, boost economic stability, and improve the quality of life for residents across the state.
Arizonans’ health spending per capita data are updated annually and are available for the nation and states. Data on the percentage of Arizonans who reported they did not seek medical treatment in the past year due to cost are updated annually and are available for the nation, states, and counties.
Sources:
- Health Spending Per Capita: Kaiser Family Foundation, State Health Facts
- Not Seeking Medical Treatment Due to Cost: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Administered by the Center for Disease Control