A report released on Thursday, September 19th, by The Commonwealth Fund reveals that the United States ranks last among 10 high-income countries in key healthcare metrics, despite spending nearly double what other nations do on healthcare. The report highlights the country’s poor outcomes in areas such as life expectancy, preventable deaths, and access to affordable care. Dr. Joseph Betancourt, president of The Commonwealth Fund, emphasized, “Americans are sicker, die younger, and struggle to afford essential health care.”
The U.S. ranked last overall, while Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom topped the list. The report pointed out that countries with universal health coverage, such as those leading in the rankings, had more equitable access to care and fewer administrative inefficiencies. According to Dr. David Blumenthal, the former president of The Commonwealth Fund, “We are undersupplied with the things that people need most, including doctors and hospital beds.”
One critical issue noted by the researchers was the administrative complexity in the U.S., which contributed to high costs and delays in care. Reginald Williams II, vice president of The Commonwealth Fund, called for streamlined systems to reduce inefficiencies, adding, “Administrative requirements can cost time and money for patients and doctors.”
The U.S. also ranked poorly in health outcomes, with higher rates of preventable and treatable deaths, including excess deaths from COVID-19. Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, remarked, “Many of America’s most vulnerable, including racial minorities and people with low incomes, are uninsured or underinsured.”
The report’s findings point to the need for systemic reforms, including expanding insurance coverage and addressing social determinants of health. As Dr. Adam Gaffney, a critical care physician, noted, “A universal health care system can make a difference.”
