The media regularly report about how health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate. Well, here are some of the numbers. According to the federal government's estimates, health care expenditures in the United States are approaching or exceeding $4 trillion per year and account for more than 18% of gross domestic product. In 2019, Medicare spending was $800 billion, and Medicaid accounted for more than $613 billion. In New York state, Medicaid expenditures for fiscal year 2021 are projected to hit more than $80 billion.