Health care costs tied to many issues.
Although, in 1990, the United States spent about $750 billion (12.2 percent of the Gross National Product) on health care, 31-37 million people in this country are uninsured. Another 4 million people are thought to be underinsured. We have one of the highest infant mortality rates among developed industrialized nations and rank 19th in health care and well-being among those nations. Our life expectancy is lower than those of some third-world countries. The United States and South Africa are the only two industrialized nations without a national health care policy. In spite of these statistics, U.S. health care costs continue to rise and, by the year 2000, are expected to reach $1.5 trillion (15 to 17.5 percent of the GNP. Per capita spending on health care will reach $5,515 by the year 2000, compared with $2,425 in 1990 and $1,016 in 1980.
Wernersville State Hospital, Lancaster, PA.
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D003363:Cost Control / Q000639:trends; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology