OBJECTIVES: To characterize differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults in the United States with regard to healthcare resource utilization and costly health conditions. METHODS: Demographics and healthcare resource utilization among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults (≥20 years) were compared from a cross-sectional study using de-identified data from the 2013 National Health Interview Survey. The most costly health conditions for each population were identified from the 2010-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). RESULTS: While sex distribution was similar in both cohorts, the Hispanic cohort was generally younger (P<0.0001; 50.1% in the 20-39 year range vs 31.3% of non-Hispanic whites), with lower education (P<0.0001) and household income (P<0.0001), although employment was higher (63.5% vs 57.5%; P<0.0001). Relative to non-Hispanic whites, greater proportions of Hispanics reported not having a physician visit in the past year (30.9% vs 16.5%; P<0.0001) and less emergency room use (17.3% vs 18.3%; P=0.0094). Utilization of several preventative resources was significantly lower among Hispanics, including flu vaccination (31.9% vs 43.8%; P<0.0001), pneumonia vaccination (14.0% vs 22.4%; P<0.0001), mammograms among females ≥40 years (53.2% vs 56.8%; P=0.0418), and prostate-specific antigen tests among males ≥40 years (29.6% vs 44.5%; P<0.0001); however, PAP tests were similar among females (Hispanic 48.4%, white 50.4%; P=0.1897), as was colonoscopy among those ≥50 years (23% in both groups; P=0.9137). MEPS data showed differences in the most costly conditions. In subjects aged ≥65 years, the most costly conditions were heart disease in Hispanics and diabetes mellitus among non-Hispanic whites. For those <65 years, the most costly conditions in males were trauma-related disorders among Hispanics and heart conditions in non-Hispanic whites; births was the most costly condition among females in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics were characterized by lower frequency of physician visits and several preventative/screening healthcare measures, suggesting different healthcare cost drivers compared with non-Hispanic whites.