Why U.S. Health Care Is Getting More Expensive

Health-care spending is consistently rising around the world, but the United States is the worst performer when it comes to controlling costs. A lack of universal coverage in the U.S. and a fragmented and heavily commercialized system leads to rising costs and excessive spending. Watch the video to learn more about why health-care costs are rising in the U.S. more than anywhere else and how that can be stopped.

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Why U.S. Health Care Is Getting More Expensive

[blrrich]

I remember when I was younger, being told that our healthcare system is fine, because we don't have very long wait times. now that I'm an adult paying for myself and my children, I realize just how big a lie that was. Don't care if we copy Europe or make a whole new healthcare system. We just need something that really works.

[wingn]

The honest and short answer. The system main goal is to make money.

[jalenad]

We're stuck in a cycle. It's so expensive that people wait until too late to get medical help. By the time they get there, they're already being overcharged AND they need so much care that it's more expensive than it should be.

[electrikoptik]

The US is an embarrassment.
It's ridiculous how expensive medical care is there.
I'm grateful I live in a country with universal healthcare. I pay @ 100 euro per month (112 USD) for healthcare.

[ramochai]

One word: Deregulation.
In the US, hospitals and insurance companies are free to charge patients whatever they like. No transparency. (What’s even more absurd is American patients have no clue about the price they will pay until they get billed!!!) Whereas in Europe, national healthcare systems have a collective bargaining power. God bless Europe.

[runshoottech]

It’s greed, plain and simple, the same medication cost less in other countries without it being subsidized. It’s the greed of the pharmaceutical companies and the owners of these life saving drugs.

[jonsmith]

In America everything has to turn a profit. Every step adds money. Healthcare shouldn’t be a way to make massive profits. But in America, all of us are walking dollar signs. It’ll never end so long as our country has to make a profit off of our health, which will always happen since rich lobbyists can bribe the government to keep the status quo in place.

[gtaeverrr]

We also need to make ambulances free. It's ridiculous how you don't get a bill from your local police or fire department for services rendered, but if you're experiencing a medical emergency, your total costs are already almost if not more than $1000 by the time you simply make it to the hospital.

[joshuaperkings]

Working in the medical field as a physician for years I will tell you physicians are tired of this system. We are tired of being told by the hospitals along with insurance companies and third party companies what we can and can’t do for our patients. Despite the hospitals and large healthcare groups profiting more than ever, physician salaries are going down or haven’t changed much over the past 30 years even adjusting for inflation. I also find it very disturbing that people on the other side expect us to go through all that school and training and still work for free under a single payer healthcare program. Both arguments are flawed and there needs to be a medium where the government regulates how much hospitals are allowed to charge for services and obligating insurance companies to cover a basic level of cost. We physicians should not be in the midst of two very striking yet harmful ideologies without having a say in this.

[thekeith-donovanexperience]

Say it with me everyone, GREED. Good ol American Greed.

[thedude]

I was priced out. I am self-employed. So I looked for health care coverage on the marketplace. The least expensive plan, was 500 a month with, 10000 dollar deductible. It was awful coverage, basically rip off health insurance. So now I go without health insurance. If I do need a procedure done, I will fly to Mexico and pay cash to have it done there.

[thedude]

Our health care system is like going to a Las Vegas casino You are given a price for a room, but when you arrive for your check in, the price has gone up because of all the fees. Resort fees, credit card transaction fee, etc.

[etaokha]

We are really privileged in the UK. People take our NHS for granted. Thank you NHS ❤️

[OmerE.C]

What!?
The US spend per person about 6 times more than Cyprus. And the life expectancy is 3 years higher for Cyprus. Just tells you how inefficient is the us in health care

[raffiboi]

Prevention is key. And it’s truly mortifying that shareholders come first, rather than the health of the American people. Look at any other developed country. I was injured in Brazil a few years ago, went to a clinic. Paid $0! And they don’t even compare to the EU ! 😑 after my mother‘s divorce, she gets most her check ups and prevention care there too. It’s sad.

[graphenebusinesslaw]

"More expensive" ... the fact that it's expensive to begin with is an issue in and of itself.

[pctechandgaming]

I’ll save you some time. It’s because American healthcare is for profit. Get profiteering out of healthcare. The end.

[chriswilliams]

Everything is getting more expensive. The inflation is getting the best of us and the catchphrase CASH IS THRASH is becoming more apparent. Real questions are, What is the way forward? Besides gold and probably crypto, is there any solid hedge against inflation and finance related BS?

[gl]

It’s so embarrassing that we have to pay so much. You’re screwed uninsured as being insured

[NWJF]

Follow the money.

It's not that complex.

"We just need to lower costs."

What if someone told you, "I just need to lower your wage." You say, "I'd rather you not do that".

There will never be any incentive for the US medical system to lower it's cost because lowering of cost is in direct proportion to annual revenue.

If you owned a store, every year you would like to see your revenue increase. Not decrease. If your customers came to you and said... "Lower the price of goods for me"... You wouldn't do it. Your revenue would decrease.

Shareholders want GROWTH

Shareholders DO NOT CARE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY SO LONG AS THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED INSURANCE MACHINE IS FEEDING IT REVENUE!