Physician’s guide to healthcare reform

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other advanced country, but several measures of health outcomes for the U.S. are among the lowest. Below is some data comparing U.S. health care with other countries.

The total annual health expenditures in the U.S. for 2023 was $13,432 per person. In 11 comparable prosperous countries, the per-person average (in U.S. dollars) was $7,393.

Comparing the proportion of GDP spent on healthcare, the U.S. proportion was 16.7%; the average of other advanced countries was 11%.

The statistics come from KFF, a U.S.-based health policy research organization, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization based in France. 

The 11 comparable countries in the study were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Lower life expectancy in U.S. 

Although the U.S. spends about 82% more per person on healthcare than other advanced countries, certain health measures are lower. The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.4 years. In the other 11 advanced countries, the average life expectancy is 82.5. 

Factors contributing to higher death rates in the U.S. compared to other advanced countries include obesity, diabetes, liver disease, chronic respiratory disease, substance abuse and homicide, as well as less access to care for some groups.

Infant mortality in the U.S. is the highest: 5.6 per 1,000 live births versus an average of 3.3 for the other countries. Maternal mortality in the U.S. is more than three times higher than other advanced countries.

On the other hand, statistics for mortality of hospitalized patients is more favorable for the U.S. The age-standardized 30-day mortality rate per 100 patients after admission to the hospital for heart attack or stroke ages 45 and older is 18.7, compared to 22.7 in other comparable countries. 

Utilization of services

The U.S. has fewer in-person physician visits per capita than most other advanced countries. Germany, the Netherlands and Japan have more than twice as many visits per capita; Sweden has fewer. 

Specific procedures

The U.S. performs fewer angioplasties per year than comparable countries, and the costs per procedure are higher. For knee replacements, the ratio of services is similar, and the costs are closer. The frequency of use and costs of MRIs in the U.S. and other advanced countries is similar.

The international comparisons show the U.S. devotes more resources to healthcare than other advanced countries. •