People under the age of 25 spent 50 percent more money on health care in 2005 than they did a decade earlier, according to a U.S Department of Labor report released last month.
The 2005 Consumer Expenditures survey reported that the average household headed by someone 25 or younger spent about $704 in 2005, the most recent year for which data was gathered.
In 1995, that number was $466.
The survey defines health care spending as prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, health insurance and medical supplies.
The national sample is taken from about 8.5 million consumers under 25 from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Cristian Meghea, assistant professor at MSU's Institute for Health Care Studies, said young people are paying more for health care because health insurance is becoming more expensive.
"The growth in health expenditures for the 25 and under is almost entirely due to higher expenditures on health insurance," he said.
The reason basic health care costs are going up is because of the increase of new technology and drugs, he said.
According to the survey, the cost of insurance rose from $321 in 2004 to $377 in 2005. That's a 17.4 percent increase.
"The cost of health care has been increasing," said James McCurtis, assistant director for the Michigan Department of Community Health. "People will spend more, and that's not only people under the age of 25, but everyone."
Lindsay Green said she and her family are "getting frustrated" with their health insurance.
The child development junior, who is covered on her parents' insurance plan, recently paid $160 for physical therapy for her migraines.
"Co-pays are going up, and insurance is going downhill," said Green, who uses Blue Cross Network insurance.
"I had a $160 bill for two visits because they make you pay the deductible."
The high cost of insurance leads many young people to go without it.
The age group also tends to have jobs that don't offer health benefits, which would cause them to pay out of pocket for health care.
"Even if jobs offered health benefits, you still pay for a certain amount of health care in your paycheck," McCurtis said.
Another reason young people are uninsured is because they have less of a need for medical attention, he said.
"People under 25 typically don't use health insurance or visit doctors as much because they tend to be healthier," McCurtis said.
Despite the rising costs for coverage, Green said neither she nor her parents are searching for a new insurance company.
"We're just dealing with it," she said.
