Isophoric News · Thursday, October 22, 2026
Federal actuaries project U.S. health spending reaches $6.0 trillion in 2026, with growth slowing
U.S. health spending is projected to reach $6.0 trillion in 2026, or 18.7% of the economy, with hospitals the largest share at $1.9 trillion, according to a KFF analysis of National Health Expenditure projections from federal actuaries. Growth in health spending is estimated to have slowed to 6.3% in 2026 and is expected to slow to 4.7% in 2027, and spending is projected to reach $9.0 trillion by 2034, over one-fifth of the economy, KFF said. KFF says Medicaid changes in the 2025 budget reconciliation law and the expiration of enhanced ACA marketplace premium tax credits in 2025 are among the policy changes expected to slow growth.