Haphazard Healthcare in America, as Shown in 11 Troubling Facts
Unlike many other well-off countries, the United States doesn’t offer universal health coverage or set limitations on out-of-pocket healthcare costs. That puts Americans in a tough spot; a lack of insurance and the burden of substantial medical expenses means we face an array of health-related challenges.
Mindfully American pulled statistics from several sources, highlighting troubling facts about our healthcare system.
1: High-Income Americans Defer Medical Care
According to a Commonwealth Fund analysis, high-income Americans are almost as likely as low-income citizens of eight other developed nations to defer medical care due to cost. Nearly one in three high-income Americans reported at least one cost-related issue in accessing health care over a one-year period.
2: Average and Low-Income People Skip Dental Care
The same analysis showed that 46% of average and low-income Americans skip regular dental care due to cost. Twenty-four percent of high earners also postpone dental checkups and procedures because of the financial burden.
3: Avoiding Mental Health Care
The US is in a mental health crisis, according to the Biden administration. About half of women and one-third of men report worsening mental health since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, 21% of low and average-income Americans and 14% of high-income Americans aren’t getting mental health treatment due to costs.
4: Medical Bills Plaguing Americans
Close to half of all Americans, regardless of income level, reported having problems paying a medical bill in the last year. Problems paying included the inability to pay as well as having to dispute charges. Problems also included insurance providers covering less than the patient expected.
5: Forgoing All Health Insurance
Nearly 10% of Americans do not have any form of health coverage. The uninsured rate in the US is the worst in the developed world and at an all-time low.
6: Unmet Social Needs Are Prevalent in the US
Just under 40% of low and average-income Americans reported at least one unmet social need in the last year. Social needs include having enough food, having a clean and safe place to sleep, and having a stable income. Research shows unmet social needs drive high healthcare costs.
7: Leading in Overall Healthcare Costs
Healthcare is more expensive in the US than it is anywhere else in the world. Eighteen percent of the nation’s GDP goes towards covering healthcare costs. Other developed countries spend between 8.8% and 12.8% of their GDP on medical services.
8: Life Expectancy Is Relatively Low
Despite spending more than many other countries, the US ranks 46th out of 200 developed nations for life expectancy. Longevity has been slipping in the US since the mid-seventies and falls below several former soviet countries.
9: Chronic Conditions Are More Common
As of 2020, three in ten Americans reported having two or more chronic conditions, such as depression, asthma, diabetes, or cancer. Other countries that researchers studied saw multiple chronic conditions in no more than a quarter of the population.
10: High Obesity Rates
At nearly double the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average, obesity rates are significantly higher in the U.S. than they are in many other developed nations, such as France, Germany, and Australia. Obesity is a major risk factor for other chronic conditions, which often require expensive medical interventions.
11: More Infant and Maternal Deaths
There are 5.4 infant deaths for every 1,000 births in the US, more than most high-income developed nations, including Japan, Norway, and Switzerland. The United States also has twenty-four maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, which is almost three times the rate of comparable nations.
Healthcare Is a Top Political Issue
Polling shows that health care ranks just behind inflation when it comes to the issues voters care most about. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats say healthcare costs are a particularly big concern, and 54% of Republicans agree.
Policy Disagreement
Though the majority of both parties agree that healthcare and its rising costs are a significant issue in the US, Republicans and Democrats don’t see eye to eye on how to fix things. Eighty-seven percent of Democrats believe the government is responsible for ensuring Americans have healthcare. Only 23% of Republicans feel the same way.
Private vs Public
Democrats also lean more heavily towards a government-run healthcare system. Republicans prefer a system that relies mostly on private insurance coverage.
Where Everyone Agrees
Although Republicans and Democrats have differing opinions on much of the country’s healthcare-related issues, they seem to agree on one thing: Majorities in both parties want the government to assist in lowering prescription drug prices.
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