Slides & Data
There are many organizations that provide useful data to understand our healthcare system and compare it to other countries' systems. Some of the organizations referred to on this site include:
- The Commonwealth Fund: a private US foundation that seeks to improve the US healthcare system through better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency. Click here to learn more.
- The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): a 35 nation group that gathers information to "help governments foster prosperity and fight poverty through economic growth and financial stability." click here to learn more.
- The Kaiser Family Foundation: a US non-profit (no affiliation with Kaiser Permanente) that provides in-depth information on key health policy issues including Medicaid, Medicare, and health reform. Click here to learn more.
This chart compares healthcare spending, frequency of usage and life expectancy between the United States and 20 other countries. Other than the US and Mexico, all other 19 countries have some form of universal health coverage. The US spends 2.4 times the average spending per person, yet has lower than average doctor visits and has below average life expectancy.
This chart compares healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP among 13 countries. It illustrates that US healthcare spending has skyrocketed from 1980 to today - at a much greater rate than all the other countries. In 1980, healthcare spending in all 13 countries was between 6-9%. By 2013, it shot up to 17% of US GDP, compared to only 8.-11.6% in the other 12 countries. To see full Commonwealth Fund report, click here
This chart highlights select population health outcomes for 13 countries, including the United States. The US has shockingly high infant mortality rates (nearly double Germany's and 3 times Japan's), and lags behind other major countries in life expectancy at birth.
The US has a relatively young population with only 14% age 65 and over; however those older Americans are much sicker with 68% having 2 or more chronic illnesses. This is more than double the rate in the UK. To see full Commonwealth Fund report, click here