United States

Statistics for Health:

The United States does not have a universal healthcare system, which means the government doesn't automatically provide health coverage for all citizens or visitors. Every time someone receives medical treatment, someone, usually the patient or their insurance company, must pay for it.

Healthcare in the U.S. is costly. For example, breaking a leg might cost around $7,500, and a three-day hospital stay can cost about $30,000, according to official sources.

Because of these high costs, most Americans have health insurance. Insurance helps protect people from paying the full price of medical care. To get health insurance, individuals pay regular fees (called premiums) to a private insurance company. In return, the insurance company covers part or all of the medical costs if the person gets sick or injured.

Once insured, people usually get most of their care from a primary care provider (PCP). This could be a doctor or a nurse practitioner who handles routine care, such as checkups, lab tests, and care for ongoing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. The PCP must be part of the network covered by your insurance plan. For example, if you're insured through MIT, you can select a PCP from MIT Health.

To see a PCP or another medical professional, you typically need to schedule an appointment. If you're sick or injured, you may be seen quickly. But for regular checkups or physical exams, the wait time can be several weeks or even a month.

The Insurance Gap in the U.S.

Despite the importance of health insurance, about 1 in 10 people in the U.S. still don't have it. People without insurance often lack a regular doctor and may avoid care or medications due to the cost. This makes it harder for them to get preventive care or treatment for long-term illnesses like heart disease or diabetes.

Even among those with insurance, some people are underinsured, meaning they have insurance but still can't afford to use it due to high deductibles or out-of-pocket costs.

Other barriers to care include long distances from clinics or hospitals and poor communication between patients and providers. Solutions like improving access to care and offering remote consultations (telehealth) could help more people get the treatment they need.

The Human Cost of an Expensive System

Doctors in the U.S. often see patients who are more worried about money than their health. Instead of asking if a surgery is painful or risky, patients commonly ask, "How much will it cost?" or "Will I lose my job or home?"

Some patients ultimately refuse life-saving treatments because they can't afford them. They might say things like, "I’ll just live with the pain," or "I can’t put my family in that kind of financial danger." These situations are frequent and heartbreaking.

A Broken System with Global Consequences

The American healthcare system leaves too many people behind:

• 26 million people are uninsured, and

• 43 million are underinsured.

Despite being one of the wealthiest nations, the U.S. ranks poorly in healthcare outcomes, placing 37th in the world and last among 11 high-income countries, according to the World Health Organization.

This is especially troubling considering that the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country, about 17% of its total economy (GDP). Even with this spending, the system is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy, responsible for over 66% of all personal financial failures in the country.