Health articles
Does access to healthcare differ by race and ethnicity?
Across several measures of health and access to healthcare, American Indian and Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic adults often fare worse than other racial or ethnic identities. In 2024, about 14.8% of Americans were in fair or poor health. Zooming in on demographics reveals disparities between racial and ethnic groups. Adults in four groups — American Indian and Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and Hispanic — report higher rates of fair or poor health than the national average.
Just the Facts about US healthcare and the health of Americans
Americans have faced many health challenges in recent years, from opioid addiction to COVID-19. And accidental deaths are rising. So what does the government spend on health for its citizens?
How much is spent on personal healthcare in the US?
Between private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and personal out-of-pocket costs, America spent $3.7 trillion on personal healthcare in 2022, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Personal healthcare expenditures come from various sources including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and personal out-of-pocket costs.
Which states spend the most on healthcare?
Personal healthcare spending varies by state, ranging from approximately $7,522 to $14,007.Personal healthcare expenditures, which comprise the largest share of total national health expenditures, refer to spending on goods and services relating directly to patient care. According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), this includes expenses for hospital care, physicians’ and dentists’ services, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, and nursing home care. Various actors, including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and regular citizens, often combine to pay these expenses.California spent the most on healthcare in 2020 at $405.5 billion. The state paid nearly $135 billion more than New York, the next highest state, and over 63 times the amount spent by Wyoming, the state that spent the least. However, California ranked 23rd for healthcare spending per capita.Which states have high personal healthcare spending?California spent $405.5 billion or 12.1% of total spending on personal healthcare — funds spent directly on health services — in 2020, the latest year with available data on state-level healthcare spending. New York, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania also ranked as top healthcare-spending states in 2020, with expenditures of $270.8 billion, $246.8 billion, $214.4 billion, and $148.3 billion, respectively. However, California, Texas, Florida, and New York were also the four most populous states in 2020.
How many people skip medical treatment due to healthcare costs?
In 2023, 27% of American adults skipped some form of medical treatment because they couldn’t afford it, according to the Federal Reserve. This is lower than the 32% who avoided care in 2013, when data collection began, but ties with 2015 and 2017 as the fourth-highest year on record.The probability of declining medical care seems to correlate with income: 42% of people with a family income under $25,000 skipped some medical treatment in 2023, compared to 12% of people with incomes over $100,000.
The state of healthcare at the end of 2020
Even before the coronavirus pandemic surged across the country, government data revealed that healthcare was getting costlier, and not always with improved results.
How much money do doctors make in the US?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 839,000 people worked as physicians or surgeons in 2024, earning a median annual wage of at least $239,200. By comparison, America's general median wage was $49,500. These jobs require in-depth education and training, and the work environment often requires long shifts and irregular hours. The work can be intense, but the professions are growing. The BLS estimates 24,300 new physician and surgeon jobs will be created over the next decade due to an aging population, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, and mental health service growth. While salaries vary by location and specialty, physicians are some of the most well-compensated healthcare practitioners and among the highest earners overall.How does doctor pay compare to that of other medical professions?Physicians and surgeons earn more than non-physician healthcare practitioners, which includes dentists, therapists, and nurses. This larger group of occupations earns a median annual wage of $101,370, which is more than 80% below the median ($239,200) for physicians and surgeons.
What does the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) do?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is a subdivision of the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for administering the nation’s major healthcare programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The agency ensures that beneficiaries have access to high-quality healthcare services while also working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. It was established in 1965.
What does the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) do?
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a subdivision of the US Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for providing comprehensive healthcare services to military veterans. The agency operates a nationwide system of medical centers, outpatient clinics, and specialized care facilities, offering services ranging from primary care to specialized treatments for conditions such as PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. It also conducts research and provides training for healthcare professionals. It was established in 1930.
Which states have the highest cancer rates?
In 2022, Kentucky had the highest incidence rate of age-adjusted new cancer cases nationwide at 512.0 per 100,000 people, 15.8% above the national rate, followed by West Virginia (510.6) and Iowa (505.9). New Mexico had the lowest rate of any state (366.9) and was followed by Massachusetts (377.9) and Colorado (382.2). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, the nationwide cancer incidence rate was 442.3 per 100,000 people. Separately, Puerto Rico had the lowest rate of new cancers and mortality compared to the states. (The CDC has collected cancer data for Puerto Rico since 2005, but it is not included in the national incident rate. The CDC also has limited data for other US territories.)
The Affordable Care Act and the data: Who is insured and who isn't
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a comprehensive healthcare reform act signed into law in March 2010, during Barack Obama’s first presidency.The legislation aimed to “make affordable health insurance available to more people” by offering tax credits to some enrollees, expanding Medicaid to be available based on income alone, and supporting innovation to lower the cost of providing healthcare.In early 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported that more than 45 million people had enrolled in ACA-related insurance plans.
What’s going on with ACA subsidies?
On December 31, 2025, temporary Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy expansions expired. Beginning in 2026, subsidy eligibility and benefit levels reverted to those set under the original ACA law. The ACA, which was passed in 2010, intended to expand health insurance coverage and reduce healthcare costs. The law established the Health Insurance Marketplace as a platform where individuals and families can shop for and enroll in private, ACA-approved health insurance plans. The ACA Marketplace’s purpose is to provide an insurance option for people who don't have insurance through an employer (like freelancers, people between jobs, part-time workers), or through a public program like Medicaid or Medicare. While ACA Marketplace plans are available to most people regardless of income, the ACA also offers income-based subsidies to eligible enrollees to make monthly premiums more affordable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, eligibility requirements for ACA assistance were temporarily expanded in 2021 to help prevent coverage losses. Because those enhancements expired at the end of 2025, some enrollees may pay higher monthly premiums starting in 2026.
How many Americans have been diagnosed with HIV?
In 2023, 1.1 million people were living with diagnosed HIV in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a disease spread through sex that weakens a person’s immune system, compromising their health by attacking the white blood cells that are critical to fighting off disease. Early HIV diagnosis is one pillar of the federal government’s plan to end the HIV epidemic.How many people are diagnosed with HIV each year?In 2023, 38,793 people in the US were newly diagnosed with HIV, a number that has surpassed the previous 2017 high. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) attributes the increase to increased testing, as people who delayed healthcare in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic returned to the doctor.The federal government’s goal is to reduce annual new diagnoses to 9,588 by 2025, and then to 3,000 by 2030.
How much does Medicaid cost in the US?
A combined $894 billion in state and federal spending in fiscal year (FY) 2023, the most recent data available. That’s about $2,700 for every person living in the US. As a health insurance program for low-income individuals, Medicaid is jointly funded by both levels of government, with the federal government covering the larger share.
How much is spent per Medicaid enrollee in the US?
In fiscal year (FY) 2023, $9,109 per enrollee. That's 1% lower than in FY 2022. Adjusted for inflation, Medicaid spending per enrollee is at its lowest level since 1994. Spending primarily covers benefits, but administrative costs are also included.
How many people are on Medicaid in the US?
On average, 88.8 million or 26.2% of the US population during FY 2024. Enrolling about 1 in 4 people in the US, Medicaid is one of the largest single health insurers in the country. Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance program that provides free or low-cost coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Who has health insurance? Are rates going up?
According to the Census Bureau 92.0% of people in the US had health insurance in 2024. In the past 10 years, the share of people covered by health insurance has been above 90%. Health insurance provides Americans with access to healthcare and offers financial coverage during medical emergencies. Most Americans are insured, but insurance rates still change from year to year due to economic trends (such as those related to COVID-19), demographic shifts (including an aging population), and public policy changes.
Why have death rates from accidental falls tripled?
What kills more Americans—motor vehicle accidents or accidental falls?In a survey of our newsletter readers, the majority guessed car crashes. In reality, in 2023, 47,026 Americans died from falls, compared with 44,762 from motor vehicle accidents.That’s a big reversal from 2000, when about three times as many people died in motor vehicle accidents as from accidental falls. Since then, motor vehicle death rates have fallen 13%.
What is Medicaid and how many Americans use it? | Episode 2 of Just the Facts: Do You Qualify?
JUST THE FACTS · 7:15M
How will the One Big Beautiful Bill Act impact Medicaid?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was signed into law on July 4, 2025, contains over 30 different provisions related to Medicaid — one of the nation’s largest assistance programs. The legislation is poised to change who may be eligible, how people enroll, and how states fund their programs.Medicaid provides free or low-cost medical insurance to millions of low-income individuals. About 89 million people, or 26% of the population, were covered at some point in fiscal year (FY) 2024.