New Hampshire Insurance Department Releases First HealthCare Dollar Report on NH HealthCost Website

CONCORD, NH (March 5, 2025) – The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) has published New Hampshire’s first HealthCare Dollar, a groundbreaking representation of the state’s healthcare expenditures. This new tool, available on the NH HealthCost website at https://nhhealthcost.nh.gov, provides an empirical, data-driven breakdown of healthcare spending in New Hampshire based on actual observed expenditures from payers across the state.

The HealthCare Dollar is a key component of NHID’s first Total Health Care Expenditure (THCE) Model, developed in partnership with Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting. This model provides a comprehensive view of healthcare spending in the state, leveraging direct expenditure data from New Hampshire insurers, the New Hampshire Medicaid Office, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The NHID’s HealthCare Dollar is based on direct, empirical measures of healthcare expenditures observed from payers operating within New Hampshire. This approach provides an accurate, state-specific breakdown of healthcare spending, distinguishing it from previous estimates that relied on national data adjusted for New Hampshire’s population.

For context, other studies have relied upon per capita healthcare expenditures of approximately $11,000 per person. However, these figures were not derived from NH-centric direct healthcare expenditure metrics. Instead, they were calculated using national healthcare expenditure data and adjusted based on New Hampshire’s population share—functioning as surrogate estimates rather than direct observations of in-state spending.

The NHID’s report found that total healthcare expenditures in New Hampshire reached $12.78 billion in 2021, equating to $9,213.59 per resident. In 2022, spending increased to $13.02 billion, or $9,331 per resident. Unlike previous estimates that relied on national data adjusted for New Hampshire’s population, the NHID’s HealthCare Dollar is derived from state-specific healthcare expenditure data, ensuring a more accurate and actionable resource for policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers.

“The publication of New Hampshire’s first HealthCare Dollar marks a significant advancement in our understanding of healthcare spending in the Granite State,” said Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt. “By providing transparent, in-state data, we are equipping stakeholders with the information necessary to craft informed policies that improve affordability and efficiency in our healthcare system.”

“These insights allow us to assess cost drivers and trends in real-time, ensuring that New Hampshire’s healthcare policies are data-driven and responsive,” said Deputy Insurance Commissioner Keith Nyhan. “The NHID remains committed to fostering transparency and accountability in healthcare expenditures for Granite Staters.”

The HealthCare Dollar graphic visually represents the distribution of total healthcare spending across key service categories, including inpatient and outpatient care, physician services, prescription drugs, and administrative costs. The full report, including methodology and data sources, can be accessed at https://nhhealthcost.nh.gov.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department Can Help

The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s mission is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insurance coverage at 800-852-3416 or 603-271‐2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov. For more information, visit https://insurance.nh.gov/.