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Everything The Care Ledger published that day: 3 stories, the news in brief and the figures.
The Health Care Cost Institute's annual claims report found that people with job-based coverage used only slightly more care over five years, while the average price of that care climbed every year.
A national claims study of more than half a million workers with diabetes or high blood pressure found that patients in high-deductible plans paid far more of the bill for routine recommended care, though the dollar gap was modest.
The company said pricing discipline and benefit changes cut the share of premiums it spends on care, after it raised prices and trimmed benefits for seniors.
$6,743
average health care spending per person with employer coverage in 2023
Prices drove 90% of employer plan spending growth from 2019 to 2023, report finds
90%
share of the $1,068 rise in per-person spending from 2019 to 2023 explained by higher prices
Prices drove 90% of employer plan spending growth from 2019 to 2023, report finds
17.7%
growth in average prices from 2019 to 2023, compared with 1.8% growth in use of care
Prices drove 90% of employer plan spending growth from 2019 to 2023, report finds
$923
average out-of-pocket spending per person in 2023, up 10.3% since 2019
Prices drove 90% of employer plan spending growth from 2019 to 2023, report finds
1.6to 2.4 times
how much more HDHP enrollees paid out of pocket for recommended chronic care than enrollees in other plans
High-deductible plan members paid up to 2.4 times as much for chronic care, study finds
$153.91
estimated annual out-of-pocket cost of recommended diabetes care in an individual HDHP, compared with $68.06 in other plans
High-deductible plan members paid up to 2.4 times as much for chronic care, study finds
70.5%
share of the total cost of recommended diabetes care paid by patients in individual HDHPs, compared with 35.8% in other plans
High-deductible plan members paid up to 2.4 times as much for chronic care, study finds
29%
share of covered workers in HSA-qualified plans in 2026
High-deductible plan members paid up to 2.4 times as much for chronic care, study finds
88.4%
UnitedHealth's third-quarter medical care ratio, down from 89.9% a year earlier
UnitedHealth profit rises 75% as its Medicare Advantage rolls shrink by 935,000
935,000
decline in people served through UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage plans since the end of 2025
UnitedHealth profit rises 75% as its Medicare Advantage rolls shrink by 935,000
$4.11billion
third-quarter net earnings, up from $2.35 billion
UnitedHealth profit rises 75% as its Medicare Advantage rolls shrink by 935,000
6%
approximate share of UnitedHealthcare's medical spending going to No Surprises Act arbitration payouts in some regions
UnitedHealth profit rises 75% as its Medicare Advantage rolls shrink by 935,000
