By the Numbers: American Health Care, Overcharged and Underserved

Americans seek health care less than peer countries, the quality of care is lower in the U.S. than the average of the peer countries, yet we pay much more for prescription drugs and both diagnostic and medical procedures. The Economic Policy Institute compared costs between the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

51.7

The average percentage health insurance premiums have risen for the bottom 90 percent of the workforce since 1999.

53.5

The percentage that out-of-pocket costs rose between 2006-16.

$844

The U.S. cost of a CT scan, which is 106 percent more than the $409 it costs in other countries.

$1,119

The U.S. cost of an MRI, which is 131 percent more than the $484 it costs in other countries.

$1,164

The U.S. cost of an angiogram, which is 48 percent more than the $788 it costs in other countries.

$1,301

The U.S. cost of a colonoscopy, which is 17 percent more than the $1,113 it costs in other countries.

$2,699

The U.S. cost of a month’s worth of Humira, a drug used to treat Crohn’s disease, which is 168 percent more than the $997 it costs in other countries.

$3,930

The U.S. cost of a month’s worth of Avastin, a drug used to treat cancer, which is 163 percent more than the $1,497 it costs in other countries.

$5,092

The U.S. cost of a month’s worth of Tecfidera, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, which is 290 percent more than the $1,306 it costs in other countries.

$15,930

The U.S. cost of an appendectomy, which is 243 percent more than the $4,642 it costs in other countries.

$28,184

The U.S. cost of a knee replacement, which is 98 percent more than the $14,252 it costs in other countries.

$29,067

The U.S. cost of a hip replacement, which is 111 percent more than the $13,806 it costs in other countries.

$31,620

The U.S. cost of an angioplasty, which is 236 percent more than the $9,420 it costs in other countries.

Source:  Economic Policy Institute. See the full report at go.epi.org/healthcare2018