Health Care & Health Insurance Spending in Missouri

Current Spending on Health Care

A report by Holahan, Hadley, and Blumberg from the Urban Institute examined health spending for low- and moderate-income individuals.

According to their data, middle-income individuals typically pay 8.5 percent of their after-tax income for health insurance (including cost-sharing). Assuming that an affordability scale should be progressive, this research indicates that 8.5 percent of income spent on health care premiums should be the "upper bound" of the scale. Individuals and families with lower incomes should be expected to pay less than this amount.₂

In Missouri, estimates indicate that a typical individual health care plan including cost-sharing is approximately $363 per month. In order to afford a health care plan within the 8.5 percent of income affordability standard, a single Missouri resident would need to earn approximately $51,050 annually (490 percent FPL) and a three-member family would have to earn $85,850 per year (500 percent FPL) to remain within this affordability scale.