National Health ExpenditureRecently, <a href='http://www.theseminal.com/2008/08/18/rising-gas-prices-vs-rising-health-care-costs/'>The Seminal</a> questioned the media's coverage of <a href='http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/28972273'>rising gas prices</a>, while glossing over the rising cost of health care in the United States. This chart shows the <b>national expenditure on health care (in billions) since 1960</b>. In 2004, the $1.87 trillion spent on health care represented 16 <a href='http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/29378907'>percent of the Gross Domestic Product</a> (GDP). In other words, health care took 16 cents of each dollar spent in 2006. By 2015 <a href='http://www.healthpopuli.com/2007/09/health-care-is-1-line-item-in-our.html'>some forecast</a> that 1 out of every 5 dollars in America will go to health care.careexpendituregdphealth294820.0Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:37:17 -0700Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:03:11 -0700NatalieLineGraphdefaultNational Health Expenditure (in billions)