Health Affairs published a study examining the financial burden of health care; the ratio of total out-of-pocket spending on health care to family income.  The author found great variance between states, due mostly to differences in income.  Additionally, the study found that almost 30 percent of Americans have a high financial burden of health care.

Cunningham, P.J.  (2010).  The growing financial burden of health care: national and state trends, 2001-2006.  Health Affairs, 29(5): 1037-1044.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338908

Authors: P.J. Cunningham