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Why are medical costs in the United States the highest in the world?
The U.S. medical system is dominated by the private sector, and the problem of high medical costs has been around for a long time. The United States spends far more on health care each year than other developed countries, according to new data, sparking a heated debate about whether medical costs are justified. Although the United States is a global leader in medical technology and innovation, why are these investments not measurably improving health outcomes for the nation?
According to statistics from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, the number of hospitalizations in the United States reached 35.7 million in 2016, showing the busyness and pressure of the country's healthcare system.
The U.S. health care system is unique compared to other rich countries, relying primarily on a combination of private insurance and government help. Many countries have universal health care systems, but the U.S. health care system does not extend to all citizens. For example, as of 2017, more than 28 million Americans lacked access to health insurance, leaving them facing significant financial stress when they need medical care.
The lack of health insurance means that approximately 18,000 Americans die each year from health problems caused by being uninsured.
Among them, the elderly and low-income people have some coverage through government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, but even so, overall coverage remains uneven. While most of the rest of the developed world is working toward transparency and rationalization of health care costs, the United States continues to struggle with these issues.
The U.S. medical system has undergone many changes since the early 20th century. With the advancement of medical technology and the emphasis on public health, the medical model has also begun to become professional. The much-publicized Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, providing health insurance to millions of Americans who lost their health insurance. However, the growth of medical expenditures has still not been effectively controlled.
Some reports point out that the proportion of medical expenditures in GDP is increasing year by year, which makes people wonder: Even if medical technology continues to advance, why are costs so high?
Most Americans receive health care through employer-provided insurance, but this model also creates dependence on work, which in turn affects work-family choices. According to statistics, before 2014, data showed that 39% of low-income Americans had delayed seeking medical treatment because they could not afford medical expenses. In sharp contrast, only 7% and 1% of low-income groups in Canada and the United Kingdom choose to delay medical treatment.
Not only that, data shows that the average life expectancy in the United States is declining year by year, a phenomenon that is not unrelated to problems in the medical system. Not only does the U.S. rank low in global life expectancy due to factors such as accidents, drug overdoses, and heart disease, it even has a higher infant mortality rate than many developed countries.
One study pointed out that among high-income countries, the United States failed to meet the best health indicators of 67%.
There are many reasons for the high cost of medical care in the United States. First, the U.S. medical market lacks competition, and medical institutions in many areas are unable to reduce service prices due to limited demand. Secondly, due to the complexity of the medical system, its management and operation costs are high, which are then passed on to consumers.
Despite this, the United States still dominates the field of medical innovation and invention. Even as millions of people receive services through Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, many still face financial burdens and risky health care experiences.
From a global perspective, achieving the ideal goals of health equality and universal medical coverage still seems to be a very distant dream. Unimpeded access to medical care will help improve the health status of all types of people, and U.S. health care policy reform requires more targeted and effective measures.
Doubts continue to arise about the high medical costs in the United States. Can this system, which appears to be unique on a global scale, be changed in the future? Is this a question every American should be thinking about?
