End-of-Life Medical Expenses

Abstract

In this review, we document end-of-life medical spending: its level, composition, funding and contribution to aggregate medical spending, both for the US and abroad. We discuss how end-of-life expenses affects household savings and other financial behaviour such as insurance choices. Lastly, we review economic evidence on the efficacy of medical spending at the end of life, assessing the value of palliative and other care for both longevity and patient satisfaction.