The United States spent a record $2.1 trillion on health care in 2006, nearly 7% more than the year before, according to federal data released Tuesday. Overall, the annual figures show that the nation’s health care spending is growing more slowly that it did in the late 1990s. But some experts are warning that the slowdown won’t last. The $2.1 trillion figure represents the total spent by insurance companies, businesses, families, and individuals, as well as federal, state, and local governments. Overall, the nation spent $7,026 for every American man, woman, and child in 2006. That’s up from per capita spending of $6,649 in 2005. Meanwhile, American households spent $612 billion on health care in 2006, more than 6% more than they spent the year before. Much of the increase comes from new premiums charged by Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, which began at the start of 2006, according to the report. The report comes as health care costs continue to play a major role in presidential debates. Most candidates, including all of those contending in today’s primary in New Hampshire, have proposed plans they say will cut health care costs and improve access to medical insurance. […]