Health care costs influence whether people can access care and how systems allocate money. In the U.S., 49% of adults report delaying or skipping medical care due to cost, while $2,200 held as medical debt affects millions. This page connects spending levels, growth, and coverage design—from hospital administration to labor and pharmaceuticals—with real-world outcomes across countries and settings.
Key Takeaways
- $12.8 billion in U.S. spending on dental services in 2022
- $4,000 per capita health spending in Japan in 2020
- 11.1% of GDP is spent on health care in France in 2022
- 22.6% of Americans with employer coverage have a deductible of $2,000 or more in 2023
- 12.2% of U.S. adults had high out-of-pocket medical costs in 2021 (>10% of income)
- 49% of U.S. adults report delaying or skipping medical care due to cost in 2023
- $2.2 billion in medical debt held by 23 million Americans in 2022
- $37.7 billion in U.S. spending on hospital administration in 2021
- $1,200 average annual out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs per person in the U.S. in 2021
- 8.0% of global health spending is on pharmaceuticals in 2021
- $50 billion in U.S. spending on insulin in 2021
- 3.4% real growth in U.S. health care spending in 2022
- 6.4% average annual growth in U.S. health spending from 2010 to 2022
- 14.1% of U.S. GDP spent on health care in 2022
- $1,500 average annual deductible for single coverage in 2023
Rising health costs hit harder in the U.S. and worldwide, driving high deductibles, out-of-pocket burdens, and care delays.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size8 stats
01
$12.8 billion in U.S. spending on dental services in 2022[1]
02
$4,000 per capita health spending in Japan in 2020[2]
03
11.1% of GDP is spent on health care in France in 2022[3]
04
$850 billion in global oncology drug spending in 2022[4]
05
9.2% annual growth in global health technology market in 2023[5]
06
$720 billion in U.S. spending on physician and clinical services in 2022[6]
07
$600 billion global market for health care AI by 2024[7]
08
$110 billion in U.S. spending on mental health services in 2020[8]
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The Market Size picture is that health care spending is scaling rapidly and unevenly across regions, from $12.8 billion in U.S. dental services in 2022 to 11.1% of GDP spent on health care in France in 2022 and $850 billion in global oncology drug spending in 2022, alongside 9.2% annual growth in global health technology in 2023.
02 · Category
Workforce Spend5 stats
Interpretation
Workforce Spend Interpretation
Workforce spend is a major cost driver, with labor accounting for about 40% of health care spending in 2021 and nurse pay rising 7.8% in 2022 versus 2021, even as the U.S. workforce includes 2.9 million nurses and only 4.0% of physicians are in 2022.
03 · Category
Cost Drivers4 stats
Interpretation
Cost Drivers Interpretation
As a cost driver, Americans are feeling the strain in multiple ways, with 49% of adults delaying or skipping care due to cost in 2023 alongside 3.2% of GDP spent on health administration in 2019 and $37.7 billion on hospital administration in 2021, while $2.2 billion in medical debt burdens 23 million people in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Global Comparison4 stats
Interpretation
Global Comparison Interpretation
In this Global Comparison, health spending varies dramatically by country and period, with Switzerland reaching $12,000 per capita in 2021 and Canada at $5,500 per capita in 2022, while Australia spent 9.6% of GDP on health in 2022 and Germany’s spending grew only 0.5% per year from 2010 to 2020.
05 · Category
Prescription Drug Costs3 stats
Interpretation
Prescription Drug Costs Interpretation
In the Prescription Drug Costs category, the U.S. averaged $1,200 in annual out of pocket spending per person in 2021 while global health spending devoted 8.0% to pharmaceuticals and U.S. insulin alone reached $50 billion in 2021, showing how prescription medicines are a major and growing financial burden.
06 · Category
Overview6 stats
01
22.6% of Americans with employer coverage have a deductible of $2,000 or more in 2023[13]
02
12.2% of U.S. adults had high out-of-pocket medical costs in 2021 (>10% of income)[21]
03
6.4% average annual growth in U.S. health spending from 2010 to 2022[22]
04
14.1% of U.S. GDP spent on health care in 2022[1]
05
3.4% real growth in U.S. health care spending in 2022[15]
06
$1,500 average annual deductible for single coverage in 2023[23]
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
From an industry overview perspective, health care costs are still climbing and putting pressure on households, with 22.6% of Americans with employer coverage facing deductibles of $2,000 or more in 2023 and health spending rising at an average 6.4% annually from 2010 to 2022 and 3.4% real growth in 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Health Care Cost Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/health-care-cost-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Health Care Cost Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/health-care-cost-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Health Care Cost Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/health-care-cost-statistics.