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

The US healthcare system shows persistently poor performance relative to 19 other countries. Americans pay more for healthcare, receive less in return, and face greater exposure to illness, debt, and insecurity. In 2024, the US spent 18% of GDP on healthcare, nearly double the average of 9.3% across the compared countries. The US also spends more per person and spends more on prescription medications. Americans are far more likely to skip medications, treatments, tests, and consultations due to costs. US life expectancy at birth ranks third lowest at 79 years, with only Turkey and Mexico lower. The US has the second-highest avoidable mortality rate and a high measure of years of potential life lost.

"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 that the US system is a persistent failure for its high costs, poor health outcomes, and premature deaths, based on 2024 data comparing the US to 19 other countries."

"In 2024, the US spent 18 percent of its gross domestic product on healthcare, nearly twice the average of all the countries, which was 9.3 percent. The second-highest spender after the US was Germany, with 12.3 percent. The US spends far more on care per person than other countries and spends more on prescription medications."

"Americans are, by far, the most likely to skip medications, treatments, tests, and consultations due to costs. US life expectancy at birth ranked third lowest, at 79 years, while the average was 81.2 years. Only Turkey and Mexico had lower life expectancies, which were 77.3 and 75.5, respectively."

"The US had the second-highest avoidable mortality rate—deaths caused by conditions that can be prevented with primary care or treated with timely medical intervention. Only Mexico had higher avoidable mortality. Similarly, the US also had the second-highest rating on years of potential life lost, a measure used to estimate premature de"

Read at Ars Technica