- US healthcare spending rose to US$2.2 trillion (S$3.23 trillion) in 2007, or US$7,421 per person, an increase of more than 6 per cent from the previous year, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported on Tuesday.

Here are some facts about healthcare spending in 2007:

- Healthcare made up 16.2 per cent of US Gross Domestic Product in 2007.

- In 2007, 31 per cent of healthcare dollars went to hospitals, 21 per cent to physicians and clinics, 7 per cent on administrative costs, 10 per cent to drugs, 25 per cent to 'other' and 6 per cent to nursing homes.

- Private insurance paid 35 per cent of this; Medicare 19 per cent; Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program 15 per cent; 12 per cent from other public funds; 7 per cent from other private sources; and 12 per cent was paid for out of pocket by patients.

- Hospital spending was US$696.5 billion while doctor and clinical services spending was US$478.8 billion.

- Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly, spent US$431.2 billion overall in 2007 while Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance plan for the poor and disabled, spent US$329.4 billion.

- Private health insurance premiums were US$775 billion while patients spent US$268.6 billion out of their own pockets. -- REUTERS