Gov’t forecast: Moderate spending increase as 32 million gain coverage under health overhaul

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Gov’t: Spending to rise under health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — A new government forecast says the nation’s health care tab will go up — not down — as a result of President Barack Obama’s sweeping overhaul.

But nonpartisan experts at Medicare say the increase will be modest.

They say that after factoring in the law, Americans will spend an average of $13,652 per person a year on health care in 2019. Without the law, that number would be $13,387.

It works out to $265 more per person with the overhaul — even with 32 million uninsured people gaining coverage.

Economist Andrea Sisko of Medicare’s Office of the Actuary says “the impact is moderate.”

Currently, Americans spend $8,389 a year per person on health care. Many experts believe the rising costs are not sustainable.