A new report published by The Commonwealth Fund reveals that the U.S. health system is failing compared to other developed nations in areas such as preventing deaths, access to care, and ensuring quality treatment for all individuals regardless of gender, income, or location. Despite spending nearly twice as much on health care as other nations, the U.S. ranks the lowest in terms of health outcomes, with people in the U.S. dying at a younger age and experiencing more avoidable deaths. Health care has become a critical issue for voters, with Vice President Kamala Harris advocating for building on the Affordable Care Act and former President Donald Trump providing limited details on his health care vision. The report highlights that the U.S. spends more money on health care but fails to provide superior care due to shortages of doctors, hospital beds, and access to essential health services.
The findings of the report show that the U.S. ranks poorly in comparison to other developed countries in categories such as access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity, and health outcomes. The U.S. was found to have an “exceptionally weak” performance, ranking last or near last in every category except care process where it ranked second behind New Zealand. The complex administrative system in the U.S., involving multiple insurers with different requirements for payment, has led to challenges in providing efficient and quality care. Additionally, many lower-income individuals report being unable to afford necessary care, leading to disparities in health outcomes and access to services.
The U.S. also scored poorly in terms of life expectancy, with the lowest average life expectancy among the countries compared, as well as high rates of preventable and treatable excess deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these issues, with the U.S. showing poor performance in COVID mortality rates. Many marginalized populations, including racial minorities and low-income individuals, are uninsured or underinsured, leading to delays or avoidance of necessary medical care due to high costs. The U.S. offers advanced medical treatments, but these are often out of reach for those who cannot afford them, highlighting the need for universal health care coverage to improve access to quality care for all individuals.
Experts suggest that implementing a universal health care system in the U.S. could make a significant difference in addressing the country’s health care challenges. Many other developed nations with universal health care coverage have higher rankings in terms of health outcomes, access to care, and equity. The report also offers solutions to the issues identified, including lowering the cost of care and expanding access to coverage. Despite consistently ranking at the bottom in previous reports, there are opportunities for change in the U.S. health system to improve health outcomes and access to quality care for all individuals.
