The past two decades have brought a dramatic increase in health care spending. Money spent on health care in the U.S. has quadrupled in the last 20 years – exceeding every other country in the world. Not only does the U.S. spend more on health care than any other country, but Tennessee spends more than most other states. Nationally, the health services industry growth per capita has increased 450 percent since 1977. In Tennessee, the growth rate has increased nearly 700 percent.

Where does the money go?

It helps to see how the medical dollar is being spent. The typical BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee medical dollar is distributed this way: