United States Healthcare Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

United States Healthcare Statistics

Only 56% of US adults got recommended preventive services, even as telehealth jumped to 43% of adults after the pandemic, while 24.1% still delayed care due to cost. Track the access gaps and price pressure behind 2022 to 2023 healthcare spending and wait times, from 139 million emergency department visits to the 26 day average wait for new specialist appointments.

160 statistics5 sections10 min readUpdated 10 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

86.5% of US adults had a usual source of care in 2022.

Statistic 2

24.1% of adults delayed medical care due to cost in 2022.

Statistic 3

Rural Americans are 20% less likely to have a primary care physician compared to urban.

Statistic 4

Emergency department visits totaled 139 million in 2022.

Statistic 5

Only 56% of US adults received recommended preventive services in 2021.

Statistic 6

11.2% of children lacked a usual source of care in 2022.

Statistic 7

Telehealth utilization surged to 43% of adults post-pandemic in 2022.

Statistic 8

78 million Americans live in primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Statistic 9

Average wait time for new patient specialist appointment is 26 days nationally.

Statistic 10

28% of low-income adults skipped needed care due to cost in 2022.

Statistic 11

Dental care access: 65 million Americans live in dental HPSAs.

Statistic 12

Mental health treatment gap: 15 million adults with serious mental illness untreated.

Statistic 13

40% of rural hospitals are at risk of closure due to access issues.

Statistic 14

Mammography screening rates: 78.4% of women aged 50-74 in 2020.

Statistic 15

Colorectal cancer screening: 72.5% of adults 45-75 in 2021.

Statistic 16

19% of adults report trouble finding a new primary care provider.

Statistic 17

Home health care recipients numbered 12 million in 2022.

Statistic 18

50% of Americans live within 10 miles of a hospital emergency department.

Statistic 19

37.1% of adults had PCP visit in past year 2022.

Statistic 20

Cost-related avoidance of prescriptions: 18% adults 2022.

Statistic 21

Mental health provider shortage areas cover 107 million.

Statistic 22

Outpatient visits: 919 million in 2021.

Statistic 23

Unmet dental needs due to cost: 12% adults.

Statistic 24

Average time to mental health appt: 25 days.

Statistic 25

1 in 5 adults report fair/poor access to specialists.

Statistic 26

FQHC visits: 140 million in 2022.

Statistic 27

Vision care access: 30% skipped due to cost.

Statistic 28

Postpartum care within 21 days: only 54% receive.

Statistic 29

Urgent care centers: 11,000 nationwide 2023.

Statistic 30

Cancer screening disparities: Black women 68% mammograms.

Statistic 31

Long-term care waitlists: 600,000 for Medicaid HCBS.

Statistic 32

Pharmacy deserts affect 1 in 8 rural residents.

Statistic 33

Pediatric wait times average 27 days new patient.

Statistic 34

Hospice care access: 1.55 million beneficiaries 2021.

Statistic 35

Avoided care due to transportation: 6% adults.

Statistic 36

In 2021, 8.6% of Americans, or 28.9 million people, were uninsured.

Statistic 37

Medicaid covered 85.2 million people in FY 2022, including expansions under the ACA.

Statistic 38

Employer-sponsored insurance covered 155 million non-elderly adults in 2022.

Statistic 39

Medicare enrolled 65.0 million beneficiaries in 2023, with 50.1 million in traditional Medicare.

Statistic 40

Marketplace enrollment under the ACA reached a record 21.3 million in 2024.

Statistic 41

91.4% of the US population had health insurance coverage in 2022.

Statistic 42

Children under 19 had an uninsured rate of 5.4% in 2022, down from 9.4% pre-ACA.

Statistic 43

TRICARE and other VA/DoD coverage served 9.3 million people in 2022.

Statistic 44

Direct-purchase insurance covered 10.5 million non-elderly adults in 2022.

Statistic 45

Uninsured rate among non-elderly adults dropped to 9.3% in 2022 from 16.0% in 2010.

Statistic 46

27.4 million nonelderly individuals remained uninsured in 2022 despite ACA gains.

Statistic 47

Medicaid/CHIP covered 38% of US children under 19 in FY 2022.

Statistic 48

Average Marketplace premium before subsidies was $591 per month in 2023.

Statistic 49

93% of Marketplace enrollees received premium tax credits in 2023.

Statistic 50

Medicare Advantage enrollment hit 31 million in 2023, 51% of beneficiaries.

Statistic 51

In 2022, 13.9% of non-elderly Black Americans were uninsured, compared to 7.9% of whites.

Statistic 52

Hispanic uninsured rate was 18.2% for non-elderly in 2022.

Statistic 53

92 million Americans were underinsured in 2022, facing high out-of-pocket costs.

Statistic 54

In 2021, 41% of working-age Americans were inadequately insured.

Statistic 55

CHIP enrollment stood at 9.1 million children in FY 2022.

Statistic 56

Uninsured rate for adults 18-64: 11.1% in 2023.

Statistic 57

14.5 million enrolled in Medicaid expansion by 2023.

Statistic 58

Employer coverage stability: 49% of firms offer in 2023.

Statistic 59

Dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid: 12.4 million in 2022.

Statistic 60

Off-Marketplace individual coverage: 5.5 million in 2022.

Statistic 61

Coverage gains reversed slightly: uninsured up 1 million 2022-2023.

Statistic 62

Asian American uninsured rate: 5.1% non-elderly 2022.

Statistic 63

Short-term plans cover 3 million, often inadequate.

Statistic 64

Average silver plan premium: $456/month pre-subsidy 2024.

Statistic 65

Medicaid disenrollment post-unwinding: 20 million by 2024.

Statistic 66

Employer plans cover 180 million total lives 2023.

Statistic 67

AIAN uninsured rate: 19.1% non-elderly 2022.

Statistic 68

Underinsured defined as spending >10% income on premiums.

Statistic 69

VA coverage: 9.1 million veterans enrolled 2023.

Statistic 70

25% of uninsured cite cost as main barrier 2023.

Statistic 71

8.4% uninsured rate overall in first half 2023.

Statistic 72

Life expectancy at birth in the US was 77.5 years in 2022, below pre-pandemic levels.

Statistic 73

Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022.

Statistic 74

Age-adjusted cancer death rate fell to 146.4 per 100,000 in 2021.

Statistic 75

Maternal mortality ratio was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021.

Statistic 76

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, with 695,000 deaths in 2022.

Statistic 77

US ranks last among 11 high-income countries in amenable mortality.

Statistic 78

Hospital-acquired infections affect 1 in 31 patients, costing $45 billion annually.

Statistic 79

30-day hospital readmission rate for Medicare patients is 15.3%.

Statistic 80

Avoidable hospitalizations per 100,000 population: 1,800 in US vs. 500 in top countries.

Statistic 81

Obesity prevalence among adults: 41.9% in 2021-2023.

Statistic 82

Diabetes prevalence: 14.7% of adults, or 38.4 million in 2022.

Statistic 83

Opioid overdose deaths: 81,806 in 2022.

Statistic 84

Suicide rate: 14.2 per 100,000 in 2021.

Statistic 85

Hospital patient safety grade: Only 30% of hospitals earn A from Leapfrog.

Statistic 86

Postoperative mortality within 30 days: 1.4% for elective surgery.

Statistic 87

Breast cancer 5-year survival rate: 91.1% in US.

Statistic 88

Stroke death rate: 37.2 per 100,000 in 2022.

Statistic 89

Alzheimer's disease deaths: 119,399 in 2021.

Statistic 90

COVID-19 deaths totaled 1.1 million through 2023.

Statistic 91

Preventive care effectiveness: 55% adherence to USPSTF recommendations.

Statistic 92

Drug overdose death rate 32.6 per 100k 2022.

Statistic 93

Preterm birth rate 10.41% in 2022.

Statistic 94

Kidney disease death rate 14.5 per 100k.

Statistic 95

HCAHPS scores: 73% rate hospital 9-10.

Statistic 96

Sepsis mortality: 15-30% in hospitals.

Statistic 97

COPD death rate 41.0 per 100k 2022.

Statistic 98

5-year survival for prostate cancer: 97.1%.

Statistic 99

Influenza deaths average 34,000 annually.

Statistic 100

Central line infections reduced 44% since 2015.

Statistic 101

Low birthweight rate 8.52% 2022.

Statistic 102

Firearm homicide rate 6.5 per 100k 2021.

Statistic 103

C. diff infections: 29,000 deaths yearly.

Statistic 104

Melanoma survival 5-year: 94.4%.

Statistic 105

Unintentional injury death rate 61.6 per 100k.

Statistic 106

Palliative care availability in 87% of hospitals.

Statistic 107

Child mortality rate under 5: 6.0 per 1k.

Statistic 108

HIV death rate 1.9 per 100k 2021.

Statistic 109

Hospital mortality index average 0.95.

Statistic 110

In 2022, national health expenditures in the United States totaled $4.5 trillion, representing 17.3% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product.

Statistic 111

Per capita health spending in the US reached $12,914 in 2022, more than double the average of comparable OECD countries.

Statistic 112

Prescription drug spending accounted for 9.0% of total national health expenditures in 2022, amounting to $405.5 billion.

Statistic 113

Hospital care expenditures grew by 6.5% in 2022 to $1.3 trillion, driven by increased utilization post-COVID.

Statistic 114

Medicare spending increased by 6.6% to $944.3 billion in 2022, representing 21% of total NHE.

Statistic 115

Private health insurance spending rose 10.7% to $1.3 trillion in 2022, the fastest growth since 1984.

Statistic 116

Out-of-pocket spending by Americans was $433.7 billion in 2022, or 9.7% of total health expenditures.

Statistic 117

Administrative costs in the US healthcare system consume about 8% of total health spending, compared to 1-3% in other countries.

Statistic 118

The average family health insurance premium in 2023 was $23,968, up 7% from 2022.

Statistic 119

US healthcare spending per capita is projected to reach $14,160 by 2031.

Statistic 120

In 2022, national health expenditures grew 4.1% to $4.5 trillion.

Statistic 121

Retail prescription drugs cost $461 billion in 2023 projections.

Statistic 122

Medicaid spending grew 9.7% to $824 billion in 2022.

Statistic 123

Physician and clinical services spending: $807 billion in 2022.

Statistic 124

Nursing care facilities spending up 4.3% to $175 billion.

Statistic 125

Health spending growth averaged 4.5% annually 2018-2022.

Statistic 126

US spends 31% more on admin than Canada per capita.

Statistic 127

Average deductible for single coverage: $1,735 in 2023.

Statistic 128

Hospital prices rose 47% from 2001-2020.

Statistic 129

Freestanding ER spending per visit: $1,794 vs. $1,309 hospital.

Statistic 130

Active physicians per 1,000 population: 2.6 in US vs. 3.5 OECD average.

Statistic 131

Nurse practitioners: 355,000 licensed in 2023.

Statistic 132

Registered nurses: 3.3 million employed in 2022.

Statistic 133

Physician shortage projected at 37,800-124,000 by 2034.

Statistic 134

47% of physicians reported burnout in 2022.

Statistic 135

Dental hygienists: 213,000 in 2022.

Statistic 136

Pharmacists: 330,000 employed in 2022.

Statistic 137

Home health aides: 4.1 million in 2022.

Statistic 138

Average physician age: 52.5 years in 2022.

Statistic 139

International medical graduates comprise 25% of US physicians.

Statistic 140

Nurse turnover rate: 27.2% in hospitals in 2022.

Statistic 141

Primary care physicians: 93.9 per 100,000 population.

Statistic 142

Psychiatrists: 12.0 per 100,000 adults.

Statistic 143

OB/GYNs: 25.6 per 100,000 women aged 15-44.

Statistic 144

Rural physician shortage: 60.7 per 100,000 vs. 84.5 urban.

Statistic 145

Medical residents: 140,000 in ACGME programs in 2023.

Statistic 146

Physician assistants: 148,000 in 2022.

Statistic 147

Turnover intent among nurses: 31% plan to leave in 2023.

Statistic 148

76% of physicians are employees, up from 60% in 2019.

Statistic 149

Average annual wage for physicians: $239,200 in 2022.

Statistic 150

RN median wage: $81,220 in 2022.

Statistic 151

Active dentists: 200,000 in 2022.

Statistic 152

Optometrists: 42,000 practicing.

Statistic 153

Physical therapists: 258,000 in 2022.

Statistic 154

Burnout among nurses: 62% in 2022.

Statistic 155

Geriatricians shortage: only 7,000 for 50 million seniors.

Statistic 156

Surgical specialists: 20% of physician workforce.

Statistic 157

LPNs: 657,000 employed 2022.

Statistic 158

Rural nurse shortage: 17% vacancy rate.

Statistic 159

IMG retention: 80% stay post-residency.

Statistic 160

Midwives: 13,000 certified 2023.

Sources
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Elif Demirci

Written by Elif Demirci·Edited by Marcus Afolabi·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 4, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

A typical wait for a new specialist appointment is 26 days nationwide, while 24.1% of adults delayed needed care because of cost in 2022. At the same time, the system spends $4.5 trillion on healthcare and still sees uneven access to basics like preventive services and primary care. Here are the most revealing United States healthcare statistics that connect affordability, coverage, workforce shortages, and outcomes into one picture.

Key Takeaways

  • 86.5% of US adults had a usual source of care in 2022.
  • 24.1% of adults delayed medical care due to cost in 2022.
  • Rural Americans are 20% less likely to have a primary care physician compared to urban.
  • In 2021, 8.6% of Americans, or 28.9 million people, were uninsured.
  • Medicaid covered 85.2 million people in FY 2022, including expansions under the ACA.
  • Employer-sponsored insurance covered 155 million non-elderly adults in 2022.
  • Life expectancy at birth in the US was 77.5 years in 2022, below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
  • Age-adjusted cancer death rate fell to 146.4 per 100,000 in 2021.
  • In 2022, national health expenditures in the United States totaled $4.5 trillion, representing 17.3% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product.
  • Per capita health spending in the US reached $12,914 in 2022, more than double the average of comparable OECD countries.
  • Prescription drug spending accounted for 9.0% of total national health expenditures in 2022, amounting to $405.5 billion.
  • Active physicians per 1,000 population: 2.6 in US vs. 3.5 OECD average.
  • Nurse practitioners: 355,000 licensed in 2023.
  • Registered nurses: 3.3 million employed in 2022.

High costs and provider shortages are limiting preventive care and access, driving millions to delay needed treatment.

Access to Care

186.5% of US adults had a usual source of care in 2022.
Verified
224.1% of adults delayed medical care due to cost in 2022.
Directional
3Rural Americans are 20% less likely to have a primary care physician compared to urban.
Verified
4Emergency department visits totaled 139 million in 2022.
Verified
5Only 56% of US adults received recommended preventive services in 2021.
Verified
611.2% of children lacked a usual source of care in 2022.
Verified
7Telehealth utilization surged to 43% of adults post-pandemic in 2022.
Verified
878 million Americans live in primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Verified
9Average wait time for new patient specialist appointment is 26 days nationally.
Single source
1028% of low-income adults skipped needed care due to cost in 2022.
Verified
11Dental care access: 65 million Americans live in dental HPSAs.
Single source
12Mental health treatment gap: 15 million adults with serious mental illness untreated.
Verified
1340% of rural hospitals are at risk of closure due to access issues.
Single source
14Mammography screening rates: 78.4% of women aged 50-74 in 2020.
Verified
15Colorectal cancer screening: 72.5% of adults 45-75 in 2021.
Verified
1619% of adults report trouble finding a new primary care provider.
Verified
17Home health care recipients numbered 12 million in 2022.
Single source
1850% of Americans live within 10 miles of a hospital emergency department.
Directional
1937.1% of adults had PCP visit in past year 2022.
Verified
20Cost-related avoidance of prescriptions: 18% adults 2022.
Verified
21Mental health provider shortage areas cover 107 million.
Directional
22Outpatient visits: 919 million in 2021.
Directional
23Unmet dental needs due to cost: 12% adults.
Verified
24Average time to mental health appt: 25 days.
Verified
251 in 5 adults report fair/poor access to specialists.
Verified
26FQHC visits: 140 million in 2022.
Verified
27Vision care access: 30% skipped due to cost.
Directional
28Postpartum care within 21 days: only 54% receive.
Verified
29Urgent care centers: 11,000 nationwide 2023.
Verified
30Cancer screening disparities: Black women 68% mammograms.
Verified
31Long-term care waitlists: 600,000 for Medicaid HCBS.
Single source
32Pharmacy deserts affect 1 in 8 rural residents.
Verified
33Pediatric wait times average 27 days new patient.
Verified
34Hospice care access: 1.55 million beneficiaries 2021.
Verified
35Avoided care due to transportation: 6% adults.
Verified

Access to Care Interpretation

The American healthcare system presents a paradox of high-tech convenience and profound neglect, where most people have a doctor in theory but face a gauntlet of delays, costs, and shortages that force them to gamble with their health until an emergency makes the choice for them.

Insurance and Coverage

1In 2021, 8.6% of Americans, or 28.9 million people, were uninsured.
Directional
2Medicaid covered 85.2 million people in FY 2022, including expansions under the ACA.
Directional
3Employer-sponsored insurance covered 155 million non-elderly adults in 2022.
Verified
4Medicare enrolled 65.0 million beneficiaries in 2023, with 50.1 million in traditional Medicare.
Verified
5Marketplace enrollment under the ACA reached a record 21.3 million in 2024.
Verified
691.4% of the US population had health insurance coverage in 2022.
Single source
7Children under 19 had an uninsured rate of 5.4% in 2022, down from 9.4% pre-ACA.
Verified
8TRICARE and other VA/DoD coverage served 9.3 million people in 2022.
Single source
9Direct-purchase insurance covered 10.5 million non-elderly adults in 2022.
Verified
10Uninsured rate among non-elderly adults dropped to 9.3% in 2022 from 16.0% in 2010.
Verified
1127.4 million nonelderly individuals remained uninsured in 2022 despite ACA gains.
Verified
12Medicaid/CHIP covered 38% of US children under 19 in FY 2022.
Single source
13Average Marketplace premium before subsidies was $591 per month in 2023.
Directional
1493% of Marketplace enrollees received premium tax credits in 2023.
Verified
15Medicare Advantage enrollment hit 31 million in 2023, 51% of beneficiaries.
Verified
16In 2022, 13.9% of non-elderly Black Americans were uninsured, compared to 7.9% of whites.
Directional
17Hispanic uninsured rate was 18.2% for non-elderly in 2022.
Directional
1892 million Americans were underinsured in 2022, facing high out-of-pocket costs.
Verified
19In 2021, 41% of working-age Americans were inadequately insured.
Directional
20CHIP enrollment stood at 9.1 million children in FY 2022.
Verified
21Uninsured rate for adults 18-64: 11.1% in 2023.
Verified
2214.5 million enrolled in Medicaid expansion by 2023.
Verified
23Employer coverage stability: 49% of firms offer in 2023.
Directional
24Dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid: 12.4 million in 2022.
Verified
25Off-Marketplace individual coverage: 5.5 million in 2022.
Verified
26Coverage gains reversed slightly: uninsured up 1 million 2022-2023.
Single source
27Asian American uninsured rate: 5.1% non-elderly 2022.
Single source
28Short-term plans cover 3 million, often inadequate.
Directional
29Average silver plan premium: $456/month pre-subsidy 2024.
Verified
30Medicaid disenrollment post-unwinding: 20 million by 2024.
Single source
31Employer plans cover 180 million total lives 2023.
Single source
32AIAN uninsured rate: 19.1% non-elderly 2022.
Verified
33Underinsured defined as spending >10% income on premiums.
Verified
34VA coverage: 9.1 million veterans enrolled 2023.
Verified
3525% of uninsured cite cost as main barrier 2023.
Directional
368.4% uninsured rate overall in first half 2023.
Verified

Insurance and Coverage Interpretation

While we've heroically patched together a quilt of coverage that now drapes over 91.4% of Americans, the remaining threads—27.4 million still uncovered, rampant underinsurance, and stark racial disparities—reveal a fabric that is still uncomfortably threadbare for far too many.

Quality and Outcomes

1Life expectancy at birth in the US was 77.5 years in 2022, below pre-pandemic levels.
Verified
2Infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births in 2022.
Single source
3Age-adjusted cancer death rate fell to 146.4 per 100,000 in 2021.
Verified
4Maternal mortality ratio was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021.
Verified
5Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, with 695,000 deaths in 2022.
Directional
6US ranks last among 11 high-income countries in amenable mortality.
Verified
7Hospital-acquired infections affect 1 in 31 patients, costing $45 billion annually.
Verified
830-day hospital readmission rate for Medicare patients is 15.3%.
Verified
9Avoidable hospitalizations per 100,000 population: 1,800 in US vs. 500 in top countries.
Directional
10Obesity prevalence among adults: 41.9% in 2021-2023.
Verified
11Diabetes prevalence: 14.7% of adults, or 38.4 million in 2022.
Verified
12Opioid overdose deaths: 81,806 in 2022.
Verified
13Suicide rate: 14.2 per 100,000 in 2021.
Single source
14Hospital patient safety grade: Only 30% of hospitals earn A from Leapfrog.
Verified
15Postoperative mortality within 30 days: 1.4% for elective surgery.
Single source
16Breast cancer 5-year survival rate: 91.1% in US.
Verified
17Stroke death rate: 37.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
Directional
18Alzheimer's disease deaths: 119,399 in 2021.
Verified
19COVID-19 deaths totaled 1.1 million through 2023.
Verified
20Preventive care effectiveness: 55% adherence to USPSTF recommendations.
Verified
21Drug overdose death rate 32.6 per 100k 2022.
Verified
22Preterm birth rate 10.41% in 2022.
Single source
23Kidney disease death rate 14.5 per 100k.
Verified
24HCAHPS scores: 73% rate hospital 9-10.
Verified
25Sepsis mortality: 15-30% in hospitals.
Verified
26COPD death rate 41.0 per 100k 2022.
Verified
275-year survival for prostate cancer: 97.1%.
Verified
28Influenza deaths average 34,000 annually.
Verified
29Central line infections reduced 44% since 2015.
Directional
30Low birthweight rate 8.52% 2022.
Verified
31Firearm homicide rate 6.5 per 100k 2021.
Verified
32C. diff infections: 29,000 deaths yearly.
Verified
33Melanoma survival 5-year: 94.4%.
Verified
34Unintentional injury death rate 61.6 per 100k.
Verified
35Palliative care availability in 87% of hospitals.
Verified
36Child mortality rate under 5: 6.0 per 1k.
Directional
37HIV death rate 1.9 per 100k 2021.
Verified
38Hospital mortality index average 0.95.
Verified

Quality and Outcomes Interpretation

The American healthcare system is a dazzling paradox where we can perform medical miracles on demand while simultaneously failing at the fundamentals, like keeping people alive longer than the 1980s, not infecting them when they come for help, or preventing them from needing to come at all.

Spending and Costs

1In 2022, national health expenditures in the United States totaled $4.5 trillion, representing 17.3% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product.
Verified
2Per capita health spending in the US reached $12,914 in 2022, more than double the average of comparable OECD countries.
Verified
3Prescription drug spending accounted for 9.0% of total national health expenditures in 2022, amounting to $405.5 billion.
Verified
4Hospital care expenditures grew by 6.5% in 2022 to $1.3 trillion, driven by increased utilization post-COVID.
Directional
5Medicare spending increased by 6.6% to $944.3 billion in 2022, representing 21% of total NHE.
Verified
6Private health insurance spending rose 10.7% to $1.3 trillion in 2022, the fastest growth since 1984.
Verified
7Out-of-pocket spending by Americans was $433.7 billion in 2022, or 9.7% of total health expenditures.
Verified
8Administrative costs in the US healthcare system consume about 8% of total health spending, compared to 1-3% in other countries.
Single source
9The average family health insurance premium in 2023 was $23,968, up 7% from 2022.
Single source
10US healthcare spending per capita is projected to reach $14,160 by 2031.
Verified
11In 2022, national health expenditures grew 4.1% to $4.5 trillion.
Directional
12Retail prescription drugs cost $461 billion in 2023 projections.
Verified
13Medicaid spending grew 9.7% to $824 billion in 2022.
Verified
14Physician and clinical services spending: $807 billion in 2022.
Verified
15Nursing care facilities spending up 4.3% to $175 billion.
Verified
16Health spending growth averaged 4.5% annually 2018-2022.
Verified
17US spends 31% more on admin than Canada per capita.
Verified
18Average deductible for single coverage: $1,735 in 2023.
Verified
19Hospital prices rose 47% from 2001-2020.
Single source
20Freestanding ER spending per visit: $1,794 vs. $1,309 hospital.
Verified

Spending and Costs Interpretation

We are spending twice as much as other wealthy nations for a system where nearly a fifth of every dollar goes to healthcare, a growing share of our paychecks gets devoured by insurance premiums, and the only thing outpacing our spending is our administrative paperwork.

Workforce

1Active physicians per 1,000 population: 2.6 in US vs. 3.5 OECD average.
Single source
2Nurse practitioners: 355,000 licensed in 2023.
Verified
3Registered nurses: 3.3 million employed in 2022.
Verified
4Physician shortage projected at 37,800-124,000 by 2034.
Verified
547% of physicians reported burnout in 2022.
Directional
6Dental hygienists: 213,000 in 2022.
Verified
7Pharmacists: 330,000 employed in 2022.
Verified
8Home health aides: 4.1 million in 2022.
Verified
9Average physician age: 52.5 years in 2022.
Verified
10International medical graduates comprise 25% of US physicians.
Verified
11Nurse turnover rate: 27.2% in hospitals in 2022.
Single source
12Primary care physicians: 93.9 per 100,000 population.
Verified
13Psychiatrists: 12.0 per 100,000 adults.
Verified
14OB/GYNs: 25.6 per 100,000 women aged 15-44.
Directional
15Rural physician shortage: 60.7 per 100,000 vs. 84.5 urban.
Verified
16Medical residents: 140,000 in ACGME programs in 2023.
Verified
17Physician assistants: 148,000 in 2022.
Verified
18Turnover intent among nurses: 31% plan to leave in 2023.
Directional
1976% of physicians are employees, up from 60% in 2019.
Single source
20Average annual wage for physicians: $239,200 in 2022.
Verified
21RN median wage: $81,220 in 2022.
Single source
22Active dentists: 200,000 in 2022.
Verified
23Optometrists: 42,000 practicing.
Directional
24Physical therapists: 258,000 in 2022.
Directional
25Burnout among nurses: 62% in 2022.
Directional
26Geriatricians shortage: only 7,000 for 50 million seniors.
Directional
27Surgical specialists: 20% of physician workforce.
Single source
28LPNs: 657,000 employed 2022.
Verified
29Rural nurse shortage: 17% vacancy rate.
Verified
30IMG retention: 80% stay post-residency.
Directional
31Midwives: 13,000 certified 2023.
Directional

Workforce Interpretation

While we are training an army of nurses and assistants to fill the ranks, we are simultaneously bleeding them dry through burnout and high turnover, all while our aging core of doctors shrinks relative to demand, creating a healthcare system frantically trying to build a house while half the builders are quitting and the architects are retiring.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). United States Healthcare Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-healthcare-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "United States Healthcare Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-healthcare-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "United States Healthcare Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-healthcare-statistics.

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