A new report by The Commonwealth Fund has revealed that the U.S. ranks as the worst performer among 10 developed nations in critical areas of health care, such as preventing deaths, access to care, and guaranteeing quality treatment for everyone regardless of gender, income, or location. The U.S. spends nearly twice as much on health care as other nations, but experiences the youngest age of death and the most avoidable deaths. The high cost of health care in the U.S. limits access for many people, leading to delays in seeking treatment and avoidance of care.
Vice President Kamala Harris supports building on the Affordable Care Act, while former President Donald Trump has offered few details on his health care vision. The report highlights that the U.S. spends the most on health care but receives the least in return, lacking essential resources such as doctors and hospital beds. The country’s complex insurance system and out-of-pocket requirements contribute to administrative inefficiency and disparities in access to care.
The report compared the U.S. with nine other countries and found that the U.S. performed poorly in all categories except for care process. Australia, the Netherlands, and the U.K. ranked highest overall, with lower health care spending. The U.S. also had the lowest life expectancy and highest rates of preventable and treatable excess deaths, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts emphasize the need for universal health care coverage to address the disparities in access and quality of care in the U.S. The report suggests solutions such as lowering the cost of care and expanding access to coverage to improve the country’s health care system.
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