Mental Illness Doubles Spending Per Dual-Eligible Beneficiary With Another Chronic Condition

Combined Medicare and Medicaid spending for dual eligible individuals with mental illness and at least one other chronic condition averaged $48,200 per person in 2009. Combined spending for duals without mental illness averaged $28,600 per person. In 2009, there were 7.1 million individuals fully eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; average spending for all all duals was $33,300 per person. About 30% of the 7.1 million were diagnosed with a mental illness, and 19% of beneficiaries had three or more chronic conditions.

The statistics were reported in “Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid: Characteristics, Health . . .