The United States healthcare system is routinely described as expensive compared with other developed countries in the world, but just how much more expensive is it, especially when it comes to hospital spending?
The Commonwealth Fund (pdf) recently released a study that profiled the healthcare systems of 15 countries. Each country's profile delves into different health statistics, including health insurance, financing, quality of care, care coordination, cost containment and other areas.
When it comes to hospital spending, the United States has the highest figures of the countries studied. For example, U.S. hospital spending per capita in 2010 was $2,634 — roughly 2.3 times the amount of hospital spending per capita than New Zealand ($1,155). The next closest country was Norway at $1,951, still almost $700 lower than the United States.
U.S. hospital spending per discharged patient also dwarfed that of other studied countries at $19,319. That total was almost four times higher than Germany's.
Here are 26 statistics on international hospital spending, based on The Commonwealth Fund's study. (Note: Data is based on Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's June 2012 figures. Figures were not available for Italy and the United Kingdom.)
Hospital spending per capita (2010)
United States: $2,634
Norway: $1,951
Denmark: $1,938
Switzerland: $1,895
The Netherlands: $1,631
Sweden: $1,629
Australia: $1,482
Japan: $1,431
France: $1,357
Canada: $1,271
Germany: $1,245
Iceland: $1,179
New Zealand: $1,155
Hospital spending per discharged patient
*Figures are based on 2008, 2009 and 2010 data
United States: $19,319
Canada: $14,896
The Netherlands: $13,134
Japan: $12,650
Denmark: $11,295
Switzerland: $11,219
Norway: $11,021
Sweden: $9,991
Iceland: $9,737
Australia: $9,531
France: $8,049
New Zealand: $7,856
Germany: $5,192
The Commonwealth Fund (pdf) recently released a study that profiled the healthcare systems of 15 countries. Each country's profile delves into different health statistics, including health insurance, financing, quality of care, care coordination, cost containment and other areas.
When it comes to hospital spending, the United States has the highest figures of the countries studied. For example, U.S. hospital spending per capita in 2010 was $2,634 — roughly 2.3 times the amount of hospital spending per capita than New Zealand ($1,155). The next closest country was Norway at $1,951, still almost $700 lower than the United States.
U.S. hospital spending per discharged patient also dwarfed that of other studied countries at $19,319. That total was almost four times higher than Germany's.
Here are 26 statistics on international hospital spending, based on The Commonwealth Fund's study. (Note: Data is based on Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's June 2012 figures. Figures were not available for Italy and the United Kingdom.)
Hospital spending per capita (2010)
United States: $2,634
Norway: $1,951
Denmark: $1,938
Switzerland: $1,895
The Netherlands: $1,631
Sweden: $1,629
Australia: $1,482
Japan: $1,431
France: $1,357
Canada: $1,271
Germany: $1,245
Iceland: $1,179
New Zealand: $1,155
Hospital spending per discharged patient
*Figures are based on 2008, 2009 and 2010 data
United States: $19,319
Canada: $14,896
The Netherlands: $13,134
Japan: $12,650
Denmark: $11,295
Switzerland: $11,219
Norway: $11,021
Sweden: $9,991
Iceland: $9,737
Australia: $9,531
France: $8,049
New Zealand: $7,856
Germany: $5,192
More Articles on Global Healthcare Spending:
Study: Just 15% of U.S. Physicians Approve of Healthcare System
A Look From Within: Why Are U.S. Healthcare Costs so High?
U.S. Outspends 12 Industrialized Nations on Healthcare, But Quality Lags