America spends more on healthcare per capita than any other country in the world. In 2015, the US devoted 17% of the gross domestic product, more than $3 trillion, to health expenditures. 17% of the GDP is approximately twice the average health cost of the OECD countries.
Unfortunately this unsurpassed spending has not made the US number one in health. When compared to the 35 OECD countries, the US ranks 26th in maternal mortality, 27th in life expectancy and 29th in low birth weight.
How can we pay so much more and get so much less?
