Wisconsin's health care costs 6% higher than national average - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin residents pay more for health care than those in many other states, but they often receive higher quality care too.

The most recent report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says health care spending in Wisconsin averaged $7,233 for each person in 2009. That was 6% higher than the national average of $6,815.

Also, health care spending grew an average of 6.7% a year in Wisconsin between 1991 and 2009, slightly ahead of the national average of 6.5%.

Donna Friedsam, health policy programs director at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, said studies have shown that Wisconsin has high quality health care overall, although it doesn't rank as well in quality of care for blacks and Hispanics.