[menckenjr]

Did you mean "3% of healthcare users account for 50% of the cost"?

[kevinventullo]

I think they meant what they wrote, but it might have landed better as "50% of healthcare users account for 97% of the cost".

Basically, the healthier/younger half of the population costs almost nothing.

[entee]

No if you look at the chart from the NIHCM about halfway down the article, you see that 3% of total costs cover the first 50% of people.

The top 5% of people account for about 50% of spending and the top 10% account for 2/3 so conveniently the statement you made is actually pretty accurate too :)