This statistic depicts the leading cost drivers of healthcare in the U.S. according to a survey conducted among patients in September 2019. According to the survey, 62 percent of respondents believed that Rx drugs are the biggest cost driver for healthcare in the United States.
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Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019
Characteristic
Percentage of patients
Cost of pharmaceuticals/cost of prescription drugs
62%
Hospital costs
49%
Physician fees
18%
Social conditions, such as inadequate access to healthy food, safe homes, and employment and/or exposure to violence or social isolation.
18%
Chronic illnesses and/or diseases
17%
Advances in technology and/or treatments
11%
Consolidation among hospitals and/or medical practices
10%
Something else
7%
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%
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had seen the same doctor at least two times in the past 12 months
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Original question: "Which two of the following are the main
factors that contribute to rising health
costs? While you may believe all of them
contribute, please select only the two
you believe are the top reasons."
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The Physicians Foundation. (October 21, 2019). Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 04, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/
The Physicians Foundation. "Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019." Chart. October 21, 2019. Statista. Accessed July 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/
The Physicians Foundation. (2019). Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/
The Physicians Foundation. "Leading Cost Drivers of Healthcare According to U.S. Patients in 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Oct 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/
The Physicians Foundation, Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/ (last visited July 04, 2025)
Leading cost drivers of healthcare according to U.S. patients in 2019 [Graph], The Physicians Foundation, October 21, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/751013/patients-opinion-healthcare-cost-drivers-in-us/
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