Jeff King was recovering from an unexpected procedure to fix his irregular heart rhythm when he received shocking news. The hospital had given him a $160,000 (£119,000) bill for the treatment. King, a former pastor, did not have standard health insurance from his employer, only a cost-sharing alternative plan that said it would not cover the procedure. It was pretty traumatic, said the 66-year-old from Lawrence, Kansas. Who knew that less than a one-day procedure in and out of the hospital could destroy us financially? King is one of around 100 million people - or about 40% of Americans - who are estimated to struggle to pay off their medical and dental healthcare debt, according to recent data.
The U.S. has one of the most expensive health systems in the world, with spending on healthcare estimated to reach $5.9 trillion (£4.3 trillion) in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Despite spending twice as much per capita on healthcare compared with wealthy nations of a similar size, the U.S. has a lower life expectancy than those other nations.
Americans’ frustrations with the healthcare system have grown, especially as costs continue to rise and medical debt becomes a crisis. In a notable case, the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson by an alleged vigilante, Luigi Mangione, sparked public outrage and discussions of systemic reform.
Efforts are being made to propose solutions, such as President Trump’s recently unveiled 'Great Healthcare Plan', which aims at sending money directly to citizens for health insurance, but experts have criticized it for lacking specific details.
Historically, the U.S. healthcare system has faced bipartisan criticism, with both sides pointing to the need for reform while failing to reach an agreement on the way forward. State governments have also tried to alleviate some pressure by implementing measures to protect individuals from crippling medical debt, suggesting a lack of unified federal direction.
As this healthcare crisis unfolds, the necessity for understanding the complexity of the system and the political will to enforce change remains heightened in the minds of Americans, leading many to wonder if fundamental reforms will ever materialize.
The U.S. has one of the most expensive health systems in the world, with spending on healthcare estimated to reach $5.9 trillion (£4.3 trillion) in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Despite spending twice as much per capita on healthcare compared with wealthy nations of a similar size, the U.S. has a lower life expectancy than those other nations.
Americans’ frustrations with the healthcare system have grown, especially as costs continue to rise and medical debt becomes a crisis. In a notable case, the murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson by an alleged vigilante, Luigi Mangione, sparked public outrage and discussions of systemic reform.
Efforts are being made to propose solutions, such as President Trump’s recently unveiled 'Great Healthcare Plan', which aims at sending money directly to citizens for health insurance, but experts have criticized it for lacking specific details.
Historically, the U.S. healthcare system has faced bipartisan criticism, with both sides pointing to the need for reform while failing to reach an agreement on the way forward. State governments have also tried to alleviate some pressure by implementing measures to protect individuals from crippling medical debt, suggesting a lack of unified federal direction.
As this healthcare crisis unfolds, the necessity for understanding the complexity of the system and the political will to enforce change remains heightened in the minds of Americans, leading many to wonder if fundamental reforms will ever materialize.
