Health care spending for public-sector employees is 18 percent higher than those in the private sector, according to a study by Truven Health Analytics.
Public employers spend $5,341 a year for each member on their health care costs, the study found, compared to the $4,464 spent on private-sector employers.
Chronic diseases are also more common among public-sector employees. In fact, public-sector employees are 48 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, 59 percent more likely to suffer hypertension and 46 percent more likely to suffer coronary artery disease. Public-sector employees also experience more cases of asthma, obesity and depression.
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"While some of the discrepancies in health between public- and private-sector employees can be attributed to demographic differences within each employee population, an opportunity exists for employers in the public sector to improve the health of their work force," said Dr. Michael Taylor, chief medical officer of Truven Health Analytics.
"By promoting agency-sponsored health programs, public employers stand to improve the overall health status of their employees and ultimately reduce public sector health care costs."
The survey also found that gender is a factor in health care spending. Women's lifetime health care expenditures total $361,192, 34 percent higher than the $268,789 seen in men. This could be attributed in part to women having a longer life expectancy (79.4 year vs. men's 73.6), as well as childbirth expenses.
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