A new study from The Commonwealth Fund reveals that the US healthcare system continues to perform poorly, spending significantly more on care than other nations while offering inferior health outcomes.
In 2024, the US accounted for 18% of global GDP spent on healthcare, nearly double the average of 9.3%. Despite this high expenditure, Americans are more prone to skipping treatments due to costs, and life expectancy is lower than in many other developed countries.
The report highlights that the US ranks third lowest in life expectancy at just 79 years, behind only Mexico (75.5) and Turkey (77.3). It also has a high avoidable mortality rate, second only to Mexico’s, indicating preventable deaths due to lack of timely medical care.
Drilling down into the data shows that Americans are more likely than their counterparts in other countries to forego necessary medications, tests and consultations because of financial constraints. This not only impacts individual health but also contributes to higher overall healthcare costs.
