A significant disparity in health insurance costs between young and old tied to risk-based ratings has crippled the individual and small group markets with generally fewer than 50 lives. It also is one of the least discussed issues of health care reform.
Average medical spending per person among 18- to 44-year-olds is about $2,079, whereas it’s 2.3 times higher for 45- to 64-year-olds at $4,866, according to the latest data available from the federal government. These numbers are based on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
