Charts

This chart focuses on one large licensed occupation, showing how licensing policies vary for nurse practitioners across the states. Though public discussion of the institution often focuses on occupations that have been more recently licensed (e.g., interior designers or tour guides), the economic impacts of licensure are likely to be especially important in the economically large health-care sector, which accounts for more than one-quarter of all licensed workers.

Indicators of stress are related to negative health outcomes for individuals. However, it is also interesting to examine the relationship between stress indicators and subjective well-being, or happiness. Are high levels of stress, as measured by available biomarkers, translating into low levels of happiness? Using 2008 data from the Health and Retirement Study, we examine this connection for a variety of measures.

In 2013 approximately 80 percent of households with health insurance through an employer faced an average annual (family) deductible of roughly $2,500 for non-preventive care. One in five households did not have enough cash on hand to pay a smaller deductible of $1,000.

For much of the past five decades, growth in spending on health care has been faster than economic growth in the economy as a whole. As shown in this chart, healthcare expenditures in 2014 accounted for an estimated 18 percent of GDP—a marked increase from 6 percent of GDP in 1965. 

This chart shows Medicare spending for the average enrollee in the program after adjusting for prices and demographics for each hospital referral region—areas where people tend to receive medical care from similar providers.

Over the past two decades, there has been a nearly 50 percent increase in the share of private sector workers who are offered a choice of health insurance plans.

Over the past three decades the percent of American workers enrolled in conventional health insurance plans has declined from 73 percent to less than 1 percent.

Several studies find that consumers spend more on health insurance and prescription drug plans than they need to by choosing a plan that is not well-aligned with their needs. 

Half of all Americans turning 65 in 2015 will eventually face out-of-pocket expenditures on long-term services and supports (LTSS)—services provided in nursing homes, adult day-care centers, or in people’s homes that support those who have difficulty with routine daily activities such as bathing or dressing. 

Rising life expectancy and potentially exorbitant long-term care costs have increased the financial resources required to support oneself and one’s spouse in retirement and old age.  

Since about 1980, the growth of single-parent families has been driven almost entirely by an increase in childbearing outside of marriage, often the result of people sliding into relationships and having an unplanned baby.

In a new chart, The Hamilton Project shows the child food insecurity rates in every state in 2011.

Technological and medical innovations have drastically reduced the mortality rate and increased life expectancy in the United States