Despite having fewer office visits and shorter average hospital stays and using the same prescriptions, the U.S. overall spends twice as much per person on healthcare than do similar wealthy countries. Per person, the U.S. spends $10,348 compared to an average of $5,198 elsewhere in 2016, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study.
The U.S. has higher prices for most health care services and prescription drugs, according to available internationally comparable data. Meanwhile, utilization of several services, including physician consultations and hospital stays, is lower than in many comparable countries. Use of some services, such as C-sections and knee replacements, is higher in the U.S. than in similar countries.
Here are ten examples:
1) The U.S. has fewer physician consultations per capita, which has stayed consistent from 2000-2015 data.
2) Patients in the U.S. have much shorter average hospital stays, and the average nightly hospital price is slightly higher in the U.S. than in Switzerland, and much higher than in Australia.
3) The U.S. averages fewer angioplasty and more bypass surgeries but the average price of an angioplasty or bypass in the U.S. is higher.
4) The U.S. leads most comparable countries in MRI availability and the average price of an MRI in the U.S. is significantly higher.
5) The average price of an appendectomy in the U.S. is at least double the average price in comparable countries.
6) The average price of a hip replacement in the U.S. is nearly double of what it costs in the U.K. and much more than the average price in those comparable countries for which data is available.
7) The average price of Humira in the United States is about 96% higher than in the United Kingdom. It is prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
8) Truvada, prescribed to treat HIV/AIDS, is priced 44% higher in the United States, on average, than in Switzerland, and 89% higher than in the United Kingdom.
9) On average in the United States, Tecfidera, which is prescribed to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis, is priced 174% higher than in Switzerland, and 668% higher than in the United Kingdom.
10) The average price of Avastin in the United States is 124% higher than in Switzerland. It is prescribed to treat certain cancers.
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