Health care inequities cost $320 billion annually, new report says

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New research published by Deloitte suggests that health inequities don’t just make it harder for people to access health care treatment – they also create significant financial costs. In a new analysis, actuaries estimate that the current burden of health inequities currently sits at $320 billion in annual spending, and say that number could rise to as much as $1 trillion by 2040.

The research examines the burden of inequities for various groups, including people of different races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. By exploring the differences in disease figures amongst these demographics, actuaries were able to estimate what percent of total disease spending was due to inequities.