Health care is as American as apple pie, at least when it comes to spending. The usual metric for the macroeconomy is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This is defined as the market value of all goods and services produced in a country. Technically,
GDP = Personal Consumption + Investment + Government Spending + (Exports – Imports)
Personal consumption is the largest single component of the economy. Health care comprises over 17% of personal consumption expenditures, and housing, 15%. The third largest line item in personal consumption is food, which eats up 14% of personal consumption expenses.
Thus, health care took 17 cents of each dollar spent in 2006. By 2015, this proportion is forecasted to be 20% — that is, 1 of every 5 dollars in America will go to health care.
Health Populi’s Hot Points: You’re upset about the cost of gas. Yet, gas, fuel and energy consume 75% less of your spending than health care. Face that fact, and get smart!
Sources: Health Care Spending: Public Payers Face Burden of Entitlement Program Growth, While All Payers Face Rising Prices and Increasing Use of Services, February 15, 2007, General Accounting Office, GAO-07-497T (http://www.gao.gov/)
Am so very grateful to the intrepid (and kind) Colin Hung, John Lynn, Shahid Shah, team at the Healthcare Scene, and Medigy for recognizing 
Jane discusses 
Having spent most of the first-half of 2022 living in and working from Brussels, Jane will return to the U.S. in late July to meet up with clients (and friends and family!_ until early autumn, then returning to the EU capital! You can continue to stay in touch via all the usual methods: email (via 