How Does the US Compare? A Look at Health Care Spending per Capita by Country
For years, Americans have been told that they have the best health care system in the world, but at what cost? The United States spends more on health care than any other country in the world, but does this translate to better health outcomes for its citizens?
To answer this question, we must first examine how the US compares to other countries in terms of health care spending per capita. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the US spent $10,586 per capita on health care in 2018, more than double the OECD average of $3,992.
So how does this spending translate to health outcomes? Despite spending more than any other country, the US lags behind many developed nations when it comes to health outcomes such as life expectancy and infant mortality rates. In fact, according to a 2019 report from the Commonwealth Fund, the US ranks last out of 11 developed countries when it comes to overall health care system performance.
One reason why the US spends so much on health care is due to its highly fragmented system. Unlike other developed nations with universal health care systems, the US relies heavily on private insurance and spends more on administration and overhead costs. Additionally, the cost of prescription drugs and medical procedures is significantly higher in the US than in other countries.
But is there a solution to this problem? Some experts argue that implementing a universal health care system in the US could drastically reduce costs and improve health outcomes. Countries with universal health care systems, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, spend far less on health care per capita and have comparable or better health outcomes than the US.
In conclusion, the US spends more on health care than any other country in the world, but this does not necessarily translate to better health outcomes for its citizens. The highly fragmented system and high costs of prescription drugs and medical procedures are major contributors to this problem. Implementing a universal health care system, as seen in other developed nations, could be the solution to reducing costs and improving overall health outcomes in the US.
