The US spends more on health care — with worse outcomes — than other wealthy countries

February 6, 2023

The United States spends more on health care than other wealthy countries, but that doesn’t mean we are getting the best results.

According to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund, the United States has the lowest life expectancy at birth and the highest rate of people with multiple chronic diseases. Not to pile on, but the report also finds the U.S. has the highest rate of death from avoidable or treatable causes, and the highest maternal and infant death rates.

People in the U.S. see doctors less often than those in most other countries.

 “Americans are living shorter, less-healthy lives because our health system is not working as well as it could be,” said lead author Munira Gunja, a senior researcher for the Commonwealth Fund’s International Program in Health Policy and Practice Innovations.

“To catch up with other high-income countries, the administration and Congress would have to expand access to health care, act aggressively to control costs, and invest in health equity and social services we know can lead to a healthier population,” she said.

Another group, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, finds the United States has one of the highest costs of health care in the world. In 2021, health care spending reached $4.3 trillion, averaging about $12,900 per person.

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