U.S. Spends $9,086 Per Person Annually on Healthcare

The Commonwealth Fund recently released an analysis comparing U.S. healthcare to 12 other high-income countries. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         The U.S. spends $9,086 per person annually on healthcare, compared to $6,325 in Switzerland.

·         Health care consumed 17.1% of U.S. GDP in 2013, about 50% more than any other country.

·         People in the U.S. visit doctors an average of four times per year.

·         Americans have 126 hospital visits per every 1,000 people, compared to 252 visits in Germany.

·         Prescription drugs are 2x more expensive in the U.S. than the U.K., Australia, and Canada.

·         Heart bypass surgery costs $75,345 in the U.S., compared to $15,742 in the Netherlands.

Source: The Commonwealth Fund, October 8, 2015