Health care spending in the United States far exceeds that of other Western nations and results in far-worse outcomes than in countries with single-payer systems.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that U.S. health care spending grew 9.7% in 2020, reaching $4.1 trillion, or 19.7% of our Gross Domestic Product. The United States now spends $12,530 per person on health care. Compare that to countries such as Germany ($6,731), France ($5,564), the United Kingdom ($5,268), Australia ($4,918) and Japan ($4,691).
The United States must switch to a more cost-effective system to remain competitive in the global marketplace. But that requires a prudent financial plan that drives down costs, improves health care outcomes for all and has the support of business and labor.
