Health care in the U.S. is costing more and more, and it’s becoming harder to ignore. Year after year, prices rise, and millions of insurance claims are denied. Meanwhile, many Americans are left struggling with mounting medical debt and wondering if they’ll ever catch a break.
In 2022, the average American paid $1,425 out of pocket for health care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. To put that in perspective, people in the UK spent just $764. The U.S. doesn’t use more health care services than other countries; it just costs a lot more to get treated.
It’s not just individuals who feel the pinch. Families are spending an average of $25,572 on health insurance premiums in 2024, and premiums have jumped by 50% since 2014. But the bulk of that cost is often picked up by employers, leaving workers with smaller paychecks.
Why is this happening? Aging populations, rising administrative costs, and lack of competition in the insurance and health provider industries are just a few reasons. Also, the high-deductible plans are supposed to save money but often leave families with massive bills before their coverage kicks in.
Medical debt is also a huge problem. In 2021, 20 million Americans had medical debt, with seniors bearing a large burden. The system is leaving too many behind, with few solutions in sight.
Something has to change. People shouldn’t have to choose between health care and basic necessities. It’s time to rethink how we handle health care in this country.
