United States National health spending per capita: $6,697
As a percentage of GDP: 16%
2,500 adults surveyed
Only minor changes needed to the health-care system: 16%
System needs to be rebuilt completely: 34%
Experienced medical mistake in last two years: 32%
Very confident of getting high-quality care: 35%
Not at all confident: 21%
Paid more than $1,000 out-of-pocket for medical care in past year: 30%
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not offer universal coverage. The government does pay for medical care for the poor, through Medicaid; for the elderly, through Medicare; and for veterans, through government-run Veteran’s Administration hospitals. About 16% of the population is uninsured.