For total medical expenditures, mean per-person expenditures for arthritis and joint pain increased from an average of $6,393 in the years 1996 to 1998 to an average of $9,556 from 2009 to 2011 in 2011 dollars. For incremental medical expenditures, mean per-person expenditures for arthritis and joint pain increased from an average of $654 in the years 1996 to 1998 to an average of $1,909 in 2009 to 2011 in 2011 dollars. The change in total mean expenditures was 50%, while incremental mean expenditures rose by 192%. (Reference Table 10.6 PDF [1] CSV [2])

Mean per person direct costs include ambulatory care, inpatient care, prescriptions, and other health care costs. In 2011, ambulatory care and inpatient care each accounted for about a third of per person direct costs, with prescriptions accounting for another 25%. Over the past 15 years, prescription costs have seen the greatest change, rising nearly 60% per person in that time. Both inpatient and other health care costs went down by 20% and 23%, respectively. (Reference Table 10.4 PDF [3] CSV [4])

Total aggregate medical expenditures for people treated for all causes, including a diagnosis of arthritis and joint pain, in the United States increased from $185.2 billion in 1996 to 1998 to $580.9 billion in 2011 dollars, on average, for the years 2009 to 2011. Aggregate medical expenditures specifically attributed to arthritis and joint pain (incremental costs) in the United States increased from $18.9 billion in 1996 to 1998 to $116.1 billion in 2011 dollars, on average, for the years 2009 to 2011. While the increase over the 15-year period for total aggregate costs was more than 200%, the increase for incremental aggregate costs was greater than 500%. (Reference Table 10.6 PDF [1] CSV [2])

Mean and aggregate total and incremental direct and indirect costs for two types of arthritis using the annual average for years 2008 to 2011 MEPS data are calculated.

For total medical expenditures, mean per-person expenditures for osteoarthritis and allied disorders were $11,029 average for the years 2008 to 2011. Aggregate medical expenditures for the estimated 30.8 million persons with osteoarthritis and allied disorders in the United States averaged $340 billion in each of the years 2008 to 2011.

For incremental medical expenditures, mean per-person expenditures for osteoarthritis and allied disorders were $2,017 on average for the years 2008 to 2011. Aggregate incremental medical expenditures for the United States for osteoarthritis and allied disorders were $62.1 billion in each of the years 2008 to 2011. (Reference Table 10.13 PDF [5] CSV [6]).

For total medical expenditures, mean per-person expenditures for rheumatoid arthritis averaged $17,010 for the years 2008 to 2011. Aggregate medical expenditures for the estimated 1.04 million people with rheumatoid arthritis in the United States averaged $17.8 billion in each of the years 2008 to 2011.     

For incremental medical expenditures, mean per person expenditures for rheumatoid arthritis averaged $6,428 for the years 2008 to 2011. Aggregate medical expenditures for the United States for rheumatoid averaged $6.7 billion in each of the years 2008 to 2011. (Reference Table 10.13 PDF [5] CSV [6])