Table 1. Distribution of health care expenses for the
U.S. population, by percent of total: Selected years,
1977-2002
Top 1 percent	27% 29% 28% 28% 22%
Top 5 percent	55% 55% 56% 56% 49%
Bottom 50 percent	3% 4% 3% 3% 3%
Sources: Berk ML, Monheit AC. The concentration of health expenditures: an update.
Health Aff (Millwood) 1992 Winter; 145-9. Yu WW, Ezzati-Rice TM. Concentration of
health care expenses in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Statistical Brief
#81. May 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD Web site:
http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/PrintProducts/PrintProdLookup.asp?ProductType=