New Jersey counties spend the most on healthcare among over 3,000 nationwide, but a recent study suggests that this increased spending may not be yielding significant improvements in health outcomes.
Ocean County leads the way, with $10,620 spent per capita on healthcare each year. This is due largely to its aging population, where nearly a quarter of residents are over 65 and tend to visit doctors frequently when they’re not feeling well.
The study’s lead author, Joseph Dieleman, from the University of Washington, found that two main areas drive these high spending costs: dental care and musculoskeletal conditions like joint disorders. However, despite increased spending on these areas, there hasn’t been a significant reduction in burden across these diseases over time.
In New Jersey as a whole, the state spent $75.6 billion on healthcare in 2019, ranking seventh per capita nationwide. Monmouth County ranks 92nd with $9,117 spent per capita.
Researchers from the University of Washington tracked payments for 148 health conditions and found that states and counties with higher insurance rates, income, and education levels tend to use the healthcare system more often, resulting in vast differences in spending by county.
The study did not find evidence of overcharging or patients flocking to emergency rooms for care. Instead, it highlighted a mismatch between where New Jersey spends its health care dollars and where its most pressing health problems lie.
Dieleman noted that New Jersey spends 23% more on nursing care than the national average, with some areas showing little improvement in addressing their most significant health challenges.
Source: https://eu.app.com/story/news/health/2025/02/17/ocean-county-health-care-spending-13th-highest/78612263007