US healthcare still stupidly expensive, with pathetic outcomes, study finds

Source: Ars Technica

Overview

An updated analysis comparing healthcare systems across 20 countries finds once again that the US system is an outstandingly poor performer, summarized as being a “persistent failure” for its high costs, poor health outcomes, and premature deaths.

“Americans pay more for health care, get less in return, and remain far more exposed to illness, debt, and insecurity than their peers,” the report concludes.

The report from The Commonwealth Fund—a private foundation focused on healthcare system performance—examines 2024 data and compares the US to 19 other countries, including many in Europe as well as Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Read the full report.

Spending

• The US spent 18 % of its GDP on healthcare in 2024, nearly twice the average of the other countries (9.3 %).
• Germany was the next highest spender at 12.3 % of GDP.
• Per‑capita spending and prescription‑drug costs are also far higher in the US.
• Americans are the most likely among the studied nations to skip medications, treatments, tests, and consultations because of cost.

Health outcomes

• Life expectancy at birth in the US was 79 years, the third‑lowest among the 20 countries (average 81.2 years). Only Turkey (77.3 years) and Mexico (75.5 years) were lower.
• The highest life expectancies were in Spain (84 years), Japan (84.1 years), and Switzerland (84.3 years).

Uniquely bad

• The US had the second‑highest avoidable mortality rate—deaths from conditions that could be prevented with primary care or treated with timely medical intervention. Only Mexico ranked higher.
• The US also recorded the second‑highest rating for years of potential life lost, another measure of premature death, again surpassed only by Mexico.