The U.S. health care system has ranked last among 10 wealthy countries in an international comparison, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund. Despite Americans paying nearly twice as much for health care compared to other countries, the system has been found to lag behind in areas such as health equity, access to care and overall outcomes.
“I see the human cost of these deficiencies every day,” said Dr. Joseph Betancourt, president of the Commonwealth Fund, an organization focused on health care research and policy.
Betancourt described cases where patients were unable to afford essential medications and seniors who arrived in critical condition after years without insurance. “It’s time for us to finally build a health care system that provides quality, affordable health care for all Americans,” she added.
Health care costs remain a major concern for voters
Health care costs remain a major issue for Americans, even as other economic concerns such as inflation dominate public discourse.
Neither Kamala Harris Neither Donald Trump nor the Democratic presidential nominee have prioritized substantial health care reform in their campaigns. While the Democratic presidential nominee has promised medical debt relief and praised achievements such as negotiations on Medicare drug prices, the Republican nominee has yet to outline detailed plans. Conservative groups such as Project 2025 have proposed scaling back public health infrastructure.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, health care costs are a top concern for voters of all parties. The cost of medical services, including doctor visits, medications and insurance, is the top issue for 42 percent of Democrats and 45 percent of Republicans. Americans spend a staggering $4.5 trillion on health care annually, with the average person paying more than $13,000 per year, according to federal data.
The Commonwealth Fund report, part of its “Mirror, Mirror” series, compared the U.S. health care system to that of nine other wealthy democracies, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The results paint a picture of “an American health care system in decline,” with the country ranking last or next to last in almost every key area except processes of care, which include measures such as medication reconciliation.
“Other countries don’t make their health systems work as hard as we do,” said Reginald D. Williams II, vice president of the fund. “In the United States, too many people face a lifetime of inequity. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
Williams also highlighted countries that are better at supporting basic needs such as housing and food, which in turn reduces pressure on their health systems.
Recommendations to improve the performance of the U.S. health system include expanding insurance coverage, reducing out-of-pocket costs, simplifying insurance plan structures, strengthening primary care, and investing in social welfare programs. However, meaningful reform is expected to take time.
“The American electorate is making decisions about which direction to go,” said Dr. David Blumenthal, a former president of the fund and co-author of the report. “And that’s a very important issue in this election.”
First published: September 19, 2024 | 16:10 IS
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