How much would it cost to have free healthcare in the United States?

Asked by: Prof. Candido Steuber MD  |  Last update: December 9, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (19 votes)

For example, economist Kenneth Thorpe estimated that single-payer health care would cost the federal government $24.7 trillion through 2026, excluding the costs associated with long-term care benefits (likely about $3 trillion).

How much would public health care cost in the US?

The United States has one of the highest costs of healthcare in the world. In 2021, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.3 trillion, which averages to about $12,900 per person. By comparison, the average cost of healthcare per person in other wealthy countries is only about half as much.

What would happen if the United States had free healthcare?

Universal health care would lower costs and prevent medical bankruptcy. A June 2022 study found the United States could have saved $105.6 billion in COVID-19 (coronavirus) hospitalization costs with single-payer universal health care during the pandemic.

How much money would free healthcare save?

“A single-payer health care system would be much more economically efficient than our current fragmented structure and would save over $450 billion per year,” Galvani said.

Is healthcare free for poor people in the US?

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The real reason American health care is so expensive

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Why can't Americans afford healthcare?

Despite policy efforts to improve the affordability of coverage, many uninsured people cite the high cost of insurance as the main reason they lack coverage. In 2021, 64% of uninsured adults said that they were uninsured because the cost of coverage was too high.

How many US citizens don't have health insurance?

Though the number has improved significantly over the past decade, nearly 30 million Americans remain uninsured.

Is there a downside to free healthcare?

CON: It Could Diminish the Quality of Care People Receive

A higher patient demand could equate to longer wait times for care. In countries where universal healthcare is present, it isn't unheard of for patients to wait in upwards of two to three months to see a specialist.

Do the rich get better healthcare?

“In 2012, the wealthiest fifth of Americans got 43 percent more health care ($1,743 more per person) than the poorest fifth of Americans, and 23 percent more care ($1,082 per person) than middle-income people,” the paper published in “Health Affairs” stated.

Would free healthcare improve the economy?

Households' health insurance premiums would be eliminated, and their out-of-pocket (OOP) health care costs would decline. Administrative expenses in the health care sector would decline, freeing up productive resources for other sectors and ultimately increasing economywide productivity.

Does China have free healthcare?

How Does the Healthcare System Work in China? China does have free public healthcare which is under the country's social insurance plan. The healthcare system provides basic coverage for the majority of the native population and, in most cases, expats as well. However, it will depend on the region you reside in.

Why are hospitals not free in the US?

The United States does not provide universal health care to its citizens. Implementing a universal healthcare system would be expensive, and the US government is already heavily in debt. Some estimates suggest that universal healthcare could cost trillions of dollars over a ten-year period.

Why is healthcare so expensive?

There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of healthcare in the country. These include wasteful systems, rising drug costs, medical professional salaries, profit-driven healthcare centers, the type of medical practices, and health-related pricing.

Which country spends most on healthcare?

Health Expenditure in the U.S.

The United States is the highest spending country worldwide when it comes to health care.

Do Americans or Canadians pay more for healthcare?

The Canadian Institute for Health Information provides information on Canada vs US health care statistics. Healthcare for Canadians costs $7,000 per person as of 2019. In the United States, healthcare costs more than $10,000 per person according to CNBC.

How much does it cost to see a doctor in USA without insurance?

While the cost of seeing a doctor without insurance is typically between $300 and $600, the price will depend on where you seek care and several other factors. If you do not have insurance, you can seek care through community health clinics, urgent care facilities, telehealth, doctor's offices, and hospitals.

Why do rich people live longer?

While the wealthy have the funds to improve their lifestyles, which in turn improves their chances of a longer life they generally also have a positive mindset. Their positivity means that they often have less stress in their life. Admittedly they don't have to worry about money as much as the poor either.

Who is the richest man in healthcare?

Here are the 10 richest people in the global healthcare industry, according to Forbes:
  • Cyrus Poonawalla. Net worth: $22.6 billion. ...
  • Thomas Frist Jr., and family. Net worth: $20.2 billion. ...
  • Li Xiting. Net worth: $16.3 billion. ...
  • Dilip Shanghvi. ...
  • Xu Hang. ...
  • Chen Bang. ...
  • Jiang Rensheng and family. ...
  • Andreas Struengmann and family.

Who profits the most in US healthcare?

The nation's largest payers have filed their fourth-quarter earnings reports, revealing which recorded the largest profits in 2022.
  • UnitedHealth Group: $20.6 billion. ...
  • Cigna: $6.7 billion. ...
  • Elevance Health: $6 billion. ...
  • CVS Health: $4.2 billion. ...
  • Humana: $2.8 billion. ...
  • Centene: $1.2 billion.

Should America have universal healthcare?

The American College of Physicians says that the United States needs a healthcare system that provides care for everyone, either through a universal health insurance system, such as the UK NHS, or through a pluralistic system that involves the government and private organisations.

What is the best free healthcare in the world?

However, Brazil is the only country in the world that offers free healthcare for all its citizens. Also, Norway is the first country in the world to implement a free healthcare policy as far back as 1912. Coincidentally, Norway is recognized as one of the healthiest countries in the world.

How does Canada pay for free health care?

Canada has a decentralized, universal, publicly funded health system called Canadian Medicare. Health care is funded and administered primarily by the country's 13 provinces and territories. Each has its own insurance plan, and each receives cash assistance from the federal government on a per-capita basis.

Who is uninsured in America?

Results—In 2020, 31.6 million (9.7%) people of all ages were uninsured at the time of the interview. This includes 31.2 million (11.5%) people under age 65. Among children, 3.7 million (5.0%) were uninsured, and among working-age adults (aged 18–64), 27.5 million (13.9%) were uninsured.

How many white Americans don't have health insurance?

In 2022, the national average was 10.1 percent. White Americans had a below average rate of just 6.5 percent, whereas 10.4 percent of Black Americans had no health insurance.

Which state has the lowest uninsured rate?

Texas was the state with the highest percentage of uninsured among its population, while Massachusetts reported the lowest share of uninsured This statistic presents the percentage of the total population in the United States without health insurance in 2021, by state.