U.S. health care spending hit an unprecedented 17.6 percent of the GDP in 2009.

Despite slower than average growth as a result of the recession, United States health care expenditures hit 17.6 percent of GDP in 2009, according to a report in Health Affairs.  Health spending grew by four percent in 2009, compared to growth of 4.7 percent in 2008, but still outpaced growth in the rest of the economy, allowing health care to consume a larger portion of GDP._1_

 Martin A, Lassman D, Whittle L, Catlin A, and the National Health Expenditure Accounts Team. "Recession Contributes To Slowest Annual Rate Of Increase In Health Spending In Five Decades" Health Affairs. January 2011. Available at: http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/30/1/11.abstract.