Skip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z
National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)
TIPS Home | What's New | Mission | Fact Sheets | Site Map | Contact Us
Contents
About Us
Publications Catalog
Surgeon General's Reports
Research, Data, and Reports
How To Quit
Educational Materials
New Citations
Tobacco Control Program Guidelines & Data
Celebrities Against Smoking
Sports Initiatives
Campaigns & Events
Smoking and Health Database
Related Links

 


Medical Care Expenditures Attributable to Cigarette Smoking---United States, 1993


The July 8, 1994, issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) contains the article, "Medical care expenditures attributable to cigarette smoking - United States, 1993." The study found that smoking-related disease in the United States has an enormous economic impact. In 1993, it is estimated that the direct medical costs associated with smoking totaled $50 billion. For each of the 24 billion packs of cigarettes sold in the United States in 1993, about $2.00 was spent on avoidable medical care costs due to smoking.

The study also found the following:

  • Smoking is responsible for approximately 7 percent of total U.S. health care costs.
     
  • Federal and state funds pay more than 43 percent ($0.89 of the $2.06 per pack expenditure) of all smoking-attributable medical care expenditures.
     
  • In 1993, hospital expenditures accounted for 54 percent ($27 billion) of all smoking-related medical costs. Other costs were for physician expenses (31%), nursing home expenses (10%), prescription drug charges (4%), and home health costs (2%).
     

The $50 billion figure is most likely conservative because the medical costs attributable to burn care from smoking-related fires, perinatal care for low birthweight infants of mothers who smoke, and treatment of disease caused by secondhand smoke exposure were not included in the calculation. Also, the study does not consider indirect costs of smoking resulting from lost productivity and early death. The study found higher smoking-attributable direct medical costs for 1990 than were previously reported by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). This difference is the result of comparing actual medical care expenditures reported in the new study to the self-reported frequency of medical care services used in the OTA estimates.

In recent years smoking-related medical costs have escalated considerably. These costs can be diminished only by reducing the number of smokers in the United States -- by helping smokers to quit and encouraging young people to never begin using tobacco products. Research has shown that one effective method to reduce the demand for tobacco products, particularly among youths, is to raise the price through an increase in excise taxes.

Medical-Care Expenditures Attributable to Cigarette Smoking--United States, 1993. 43(26);469-472, July 08, 1994


Privacy Policy | Accessibility

TIPS Home | What's New | About Us | Site Map | Contact Us

CDC Home | Search | Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed March 25, 2003

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health