Medicare Spent $34,529 Per Death in 2014

Kaiser Family Foundation recently released an analysis on end-of-life Medicare spending among seniors. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         Among those who died in 2014, Medicare spending per person peaked at age 73.

·         Spending was $33,381 among 85-year-olds and $27,779 among 90-year-olds.

·         For beneficiaries who lived through the entire year, spending peaked at age 97 ($14,620).

·         4% of people on Medicare died in 2014, accounting for 13.5% of Medicare spending.

·         Medicare spent $34,529/person on people who died in 2014 vs. $9,121 for those who lived the entire year.

·         The share of Medicare spending for people who die dropped from 18.6% in 2000 to 13.5% in 2014.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, July 14, 2016