The average annual annual medical costs for healthcare in four counties was significantly higher than the 2021 statewide average of $9,277. Chicot County had an average annual medical cost of $11,130 for the four counties, 20% higher than the statewide average. Ashley County then cost $10,723 and Drew County at $10,498. Desha County still exceeded the statewide average with an average annual medical cost of $9,680 for the four counties.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage Registration and Expenses
Nationally, more Medicare eligible residents are opting for alternative Medicare advantage plans over traditional Medicare. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, half (54%) of the eligible Medicare population in 2024 were enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan in 2024. 2021.
As shown here, average annual spending expenditures for Medicare and Medicare advantages were significantly different, with Medicare enrollees spending higher than those for Medicare Advantage enrollees in all four counties.
In Ashley County, Medicare Advantage enrollees averaged $12,378 per year, $7,283 less than the spending of county Medicare enrollees. In Desha County, the average annual medical expenses for Medicare Advantage enrollees was $13,611, which was $4,269 less than the spending for Medicare enrollees in the county. Medicare Advantage enrolled at $14,149, which was $3,762 less than the county's Medicare enrolled.
All payer types included in the dashboard (commercial, traditional Medicaid, Medicaid-qualified health plans, Medicare, and Medicare dominance) are the total for all four counties that account for 41% of medical expenses in 2021. Expenses were the highest.
Extended Medicaid Registration and Expenses
The Medicaid-Eligible Health Plan (QHP) covers most of the state's expanded Medicaid population. In these counties, the Medicaid QHP plan accounted for $49 million in total medical expenses in 2021, representing 7,863 low-income adults. The spending by county was as follows:
In Ashley County, Medicaid QHPS covered 2,761 low-income adults, accounting for $17 million in total medical expenses. In total medical expenses, Desha County, which has an average annual payout of $6,641 per person, Medicaid QHP covers 1,538 low-income adults, accounting for $8.7 million in total medical expenses, with an average annual payout of 6,892. It's dollars. County, Medicaid QHPS covered 2,087 low-income adults, accounting for $15 million in medical expenses, with an average annual annual payment of $8,526.
The release of the Arkansas Healthcare Expense Dashboard is the first mark when data on state healthcare expenditures became available in this way. You can use the dashboard to ask a wide range of questions about medical costs in Arkansas.
