Silver Book Fact
In 2003, Medicare beneficiaries in fair or poor health had the highest average out-of-pocket health care costs of the health status groups, both in dollars and % of income ($4,000 and 29%).
Caplan C, Brangan N. Out-of-Pocket Spending on Health Care by Medicare Beneficiaries Age 65 and Older in 2003. Washington, DC: AARP; 2004. http://www.aarp.org/research/medicare/outofpocket/aresearch-import-912-DD101.html