Forty-three states and the District of Columbia saw an increase in real gross domestic product in 2011, a modest slowdown compared to 2010. Each region performed differently, with several states posting more than a 4 percent gain and one state posting a 7.6 percent gain. Most states fell between a 0.03 percent and a 3.3 percent growth rate from 2010 to 2011.

Medicaid expenditure growth is an important factor in states’ decisions on Medicaid eligibility expansion in 2014. On average, state Medicaid expenditures grew 20.4 percent between 2007 and 2011. Regional growth rates, however, varied greatly: the West region growth was almost twice as high as the national rate at 41.7 percent; the South rate was just 8.4 percent, and the Midwest and East were slightly less than the national average. The brief series provides regional and state Medicaid growth rates on two different measures: Medicaid expenditures, adjusted for inflation, 2007-2011 and Medicaid expenditures as a percent of total state expenditures.   

Per capita health care spending and Medicaid spending per enrollee vary widely by state. According to 2009 data, Alaska, which spent the most on Medicaid, spent more than twice that of California, which spent the least. State spending for Medicaid continues to grow, consuming one third of the Missouri state budget, but just 7 percent of the Wyoming state budget in 2010.  Regional and state data are provided in this brief on per capita health spending, Medicaid spending, and Medicaid enrollment. 

According to the Census Bureau, 49.9 million people – or around 16.3 percent of the U.S. population – were without health insurance coverage in 2010. The percentage of the population that is uninsured that has been dropping for 10 years.  The percentage of insured residents ranges significantly across states, regions, age groups, racial and ethnic groups and income levels.