Health care costs rise more slowly

But that slower rate is still triple the rate of overall inflation.

Health care spending in the United States is expected to continue climbing at a more moderate pace next year, and that may help contain hikes in the price of insurance for people with employersponsored plans.

The cost to deliver health care — which counts everything from doctor visits to prescriptions or surgeries — will climb 7.5 percent per person in 2013, according to a study from the Health Research Institute of benefits consultant PwC.

That falls below the 10percent annual growth seen before a severe recession made consumers very choosy about how they spend their money.

But it fits within an estimate range of 7 percent to 7.5 percent seen since 2010. Next year’s increase could wind up being 5.5 percent after employers and insurers adjust the coverage they offer.

That would still be higher than inflation. Over the past 12 months, core U.S. consumer prices, a measure that excludes food and gas costs, have risen 2.3 percent.

PwC said the slower growth rate reflects the sluggish economy, lower use of services by patients and efforts by employers to hold down costs.

The research company also said patients will help cut costs next year by visiting retail health clinics instead of more-expensive primary care doctors, and drug spending will fall as generic medicines are substituted for pricier brand-name drugs.

PwC Human Resource Services is a practice within PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

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