Why healthcare costs are higher in the U.S. compared to other nations
為何美國的醫療保健成本高於其他國家
The U.S. healthcare system spends significantly more per capita than other wealthy nations, yet often falls short on health outcomes.
美國醫療保健系統的人均支出顯著高於其他富裕國家，但在健康成效上卻常有所不足。
Surprisingly, this is not because Americans visit doctors more often or stay in hospitals longer.
令人驚訝的是，這並非因為美國人看醫生的頻率更高，或者住院時間更長。
The primary driver is simply higher prices for services, prescription drugs, and medical technology.
其主要原因單純是醫療服務、處方藥物和醫療技術的價格更高。
One major structural issue is administrative complexity; the fragmented mix of private and public insurance creates significantly higher overhead costs compared to other countries.
一個重要的結構性問題是行政複雜性；私人保險與公共保險混雜的零碎體系，與其他國家相較下，產生了顯著更高的營運成本。
Additionally, the fee-for-service model often incentivizes high-volume care rather than patient health.
此外，按服務付費的模式常獎勵高量醫療而非病患的健康。
With limited government negotiation for drug prices and minimal price transparency, costs remain difficult to control.
由於政府對藥價的談判權限有限，且價格透明度極低，成本難以控制。
Furthermore, hospital consolidation has reduced competition, allowing providers to increase prices.
再者，醫院整併減少了競爭，使供應商能夠提高價格。
These factors combined create a system where costs are high, but the overall value to the patient remains a significant national challenge.
這些因素相加，構成了一個高成本的體系，但對病患而言，其整體價值依舊是一項重大的國家難題。
