The United States spends more on health care than any other country, yet Americans die younger, are more likely to skip needed care because of costs, and have among the lowest rates of medical school graduates and the fewest primary care physicians per capita, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.
Lack of universal coverage, a weak primary care system, high out-of-pocket costs, and stark racial and geographic disparities in access to care contribute to the nation’s uniquely poor performance relative to other countries.
The report, U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2026: Expanded Edition, compares the United States to 19 other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) across four areas: insurance coverage and access to care, affordability of care, care delivery, and equity of outcomes.