In 2022, U.S. out-of-pocket health care payments was reported to come to an average of 1,424.6 U.S. dollars per capita. In the U.S., especially out-of-pocket payments for prescribed drugs can be very high.This statistic depicts the per capita out-of-pocket health care payments in the United States from 1970 to 2022.

In 2023, Guatemala was the country in the Latin American and Caribbean region with the highest out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health expenditure, with 58 percent. Grenada followed, with out-of-pocket health spending from households accounting for 54 percent of the total health expenditure. Meanwhile, Jamaica reported the lowest share in the region, with eleven percent.

United States US: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data was reported at 0.781 % in 2013. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.856 % for 2012. United States US: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 0.880 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2013, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.078 % in 2000 and a record low of 0.724 % in 2008. United States US: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Poverty. Proportion of population spending more than 25% of household consumption or income on out-of-pocket health care expenditure, expressed as a percentage of a total population of a country; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on catastrophic health spending: results for 133 countries. A retrospective observational study, Lancet Global Health 2017.; Weighted Average;

The United States has the highest expenditure on health care per capita globally. However, the U.S. has an unique way of paying for their health care where a majority of the expenditure falls upon private insurances. In FY 2023, around one third of all health expenditure is paid by private insurance. Public insurance programs Medicare and Medicaid accounted for 22 and 18 percent, respectively, of health expenditure during that same year.

U.S. health care system

Globally health spending has been increasing among most countries. However, the U.S. has the highest public and private per capita health expenditure among all countries globally, followed by Switzerland. As of 2020, annual health care costs per capita in the United States totaled to over 12 thousand U.S. dollars, a significant amount considering the average U.S. personal income is around 54 thousand dollars.

Out of pocket costs in the U.S.

Aside from overall high health care costs for U.S. residents, the total out-of-pocket costs for health care have been on the rise. In recent years, the average per capita out-of-pocket health care payments have exceeded one thousand dollars. Physician services, dental services and prescription drugs account for the largest proportion of out-of-pocket expenditures for U.S. residents.

United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD mn in 2008 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in 2001. United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Health expenditure through out-of-pocket payments per capita in USD. Out of pocket payments are spending on health directly out of pocket by households in each country.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

United States US: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data was reported at 21.365 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 21.927 % for 2013. United States US: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data is updated yearly, averaging 23.966 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.623 % in 1998 and a record low of 21.365 % in 2014. United States US: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Out of pocket expenditure is any direct outlay by households, including gratuities and in-kind payments, to health practitioners and suppliers of pharmaceuticals, therapeutic appliances, and other goods and services whose primary intent is to contribute to the restoration or enhancement of the health status of individuals or population groups. It is a part of private health expenditure.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

In 2022, Mexico's out-of-pocket health payments from households accounted for 39 percent of the total health expenditure in the country, down from approximately 41 percent registered a year prior. This figure decreased by about five percentage points compared to 2010, when out-of-pocket expenditure represented 44 percent of the total health spending in the country. As of the last year depicted, Mexican households allocated over 32 billion U.S. dollars to health care.

Global Share of Population Spending More than 10% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenditure by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Nigeria NG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data was reported at 0.000 USD mn in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.000 USD mn for 2014. Nigeria NG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 USD mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 USD mn in 2014 and a record low of 0.000 USD mn in 2000. Nigeria NG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure Per Capita: Current Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank: Health Statistics. Health expenditure through out-of-pocket payments per capita in USD. Out of pocket payments are spending on health directly out of pocket by households in each country.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

European Healthcare Expenditure by Out-of-Pocket Payment (Excluding Cost-Sharing) by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

European Healthcare Expenditure on Hospitals by Household Out-of-Pocket Payment Share by Country (Million Euros), 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

This statistic describes the out-of-pocket health expenditure as share of overall health expenditure in the Middle East and North Africa in 2017, by country. In that year, the out-of-pocket health expenditure as share of overall health expenditure in Morocco was 53 percent.

Qatar QA: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data was reported at 6.228 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.648 % for 2014. Qatar QA: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 18.640 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.034 % in 2000 and a record low of 5.648 % in 2014. Qatar QA: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Qatar – Table QA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

Bahamas BS: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data was reported at 53.982 % in 2014. This stayed constant from the previous number of 53.982 % for 2013. Bahamas BS: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data is updated yearly, averaging 50.724 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2014, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 53.982 % in 2014 and a record low of 40.127 % in 1995. Bahamas BS: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Private Expenditure on Health data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bahamas – Table BS.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Out of pocket expenditure is any direct outlay by households, including gratuities and in-kind payments, to health practitioners and suppliers of pharmaceuticals, therapeutic appliances, and other goods and services whose primary intent is to contribute to the restoration or enhancement of the health status of individuals or population groups. It is a part of private health expenditure.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (see http://apps.who.int/nha/database for the most recent updates).; Weighted average;

United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data was reported at 17.790 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.808 % for 2014. United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 20.015 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.408 % in 2004 and a record low of 15.086 % in 2001. United Arab Emirates AE: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Arab Emirates – Table AE.World Bank: Health Statistics. Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted Average;

Global Proportion of Population Spending More Than 25% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2021, older adults in Switzerland were most likely to report out-of-pocket health care costs of more than 2,000 U.S. dollars compared to other high-income countries. The United States came second in this ranking of older adults having high out-of-pocket costs. The situation of high health costs is not as bad in the U.S. among older adults due to the Medicare program. However, in the U.S. high health costs coupled with a large number of uninsured means that for adults under 65 years, a much higher percentage had trouble paying medical bills compared to other high-income countries. This statistic presents the percentage of adults aged 65 and older who reported out-of-pocket health costs of more than 2,000 USD in the past year in select high-income countries in 2021.

Vietnam VN: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 10% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data was reported at 9.813 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.531 % for 2012. Vietnam VN: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 10% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data is updated yearly, averaging 14.201 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2014, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.224 % in 1992 and a record low of 9.813 % in 2014. Vietnam VN: Proportion of Population Spending More Than 10% of Household Consumption or Income on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditure: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Proportion of population spending more than 10% of household consumption or income on out-of-pocket health care expenditure, expressed as a percentage of a total population of a country; ; Wagstaff et al. Progress on catastrophic health spending: results for 133 countries. A retrospective observational study, Lancet Global Health 2017.; Weighted average;

Singapore SG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data was reported at 36.737 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 38.151 % for 2014. Singapore SG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 48.318 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2015, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.590 % in 2001 and a record low of 36.737 % in 2015. Singapore SG: Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure: % of Current Health Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.; ; World Health Organization Global Health Expenditure database (http://apps.who.int/nha/database).; Weighted average;

In 2022, household out-of-pocket health expenditure in Haiti amounted to approximately 290 million U.S. dollars, up from 288 million U.S. dollars recorded a year prior. The figure showed an overall upward trend throughout the analyzed decade, increasing by about 59 percent compared to 2010, when household spending on healthcare totaled 182 million U.S. dollars. During the last year depicted, its neighboring country, the Dominican Republic, recorded an out-of-pocket health expenditure of 1.4 billion U.S. dollars.