A study identified and compared spending patterns of 3 groups: (1) Medicaid recipients (n=2,262); (2) insured families (n=621); and (3) uninsured families (n=654). A higher proportion of Medicaid families' members are covered; insured families spend a larger proportion of total expenditures for health care and less for food, apparel, and services. Insured families differ demographically from the other groups. (JOW)