U.S. dental spending up in 2021: ADA
An American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finds national dental expenditures increased by 11% from $146 billion in 2020 to $162 billion in 2021. ADA released the data on Dec. 16 in an email to members and subscribers.
HPI Chief Economist and Vice President Marko Vujicic said in the email that the data show that in 2021 it was full steam ahead for the dental economy.
Additional key findings include:
- Dental spending in 2021 was higher than its pre-pandemic level. COVID-19-related government relief program spending was $7 billion in 2021. Without these programs, HPI estimates that 2021 national dental spending would have been $155 billion, still above pre-pandemic levels.
- Government program spending increased by 25% from 2020 to 2021. Within government programs, Medicare and Medicaid spending each increased by about $2 billion. Private health insurance spending was up by 11% and out-of-pocket spending increased by 13%.
Read more on the Health Policy Institute’s website.
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