How much have medical care costs gone up since 2020?
+14.4% from the 2020 average to September 2026, so $100 of medical care in 2020 costs $114.41 now. All prices rose +30.2% over the same time (BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
How much medical care costs have gone up
+1.5% in the last 12 months, +14.4% since 2020 · BLS, September 2026
Last 12 months+1.5%all prices +3.7%
Since 2020+14.4%all prices +30.2%
Since 2000+127.7%all prices +95.7%
A year since 19474.89%all prices 3.48%
What $100.00 of medical care in 2020 costs in September 2026
$114.41- Medical care since 2020
- +14.4%
- All prices since 2020
- +30.2%
- Slower than inflation by
- 15.8 points
Medical care against all prices since 2000
Both indexes set to 100 in 2000. Medical care have risen more slowly than prices overall since 2020.
Medical care by year
| Year | Medical care | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12 months | +1.5% | +3.7% |
| 2025 | +3.2% | +2.7% |
| 2024 | +2.8% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | +0.5% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | +4.0% | +6.5% |
| 2021 | +2.2% | +7.0% |
| 2020 | +1.8% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | +4.6% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | +2.0% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | +1.8% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | +4.1% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | +2.6% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | +3.0% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | +2.0% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | +3.2% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | +3.5% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | +3.3% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | +3.4% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | +2.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | +5.2% | +4.1% |
| 2006 | +3.6% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | +4.3% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | +4.2% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | +3.7% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | +5.0% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | +4.7% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | +4.2% | +3.4% |
| 1999 | +3.7% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | +3.4% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | +2.8% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | +3.0% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | +3.9% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | +4.9% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | +5.4% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | +6.6% | +2.9% |
| 1991 | +7.9% | +3.1% |
| 1990 | +9.6% | +6.1% |
| 1989 | +8.5% | +4.6% |
| 1988 | +6.9% | +4.4% |
| 1987 | +5.8% | +4.4% |
| 1986 | +7.7% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | +6.8% | +3.8% |
| 1984 | +6.1% | +3.9% |
| 1983 | +6.4% | +3.8% |
| 1982 | +11.0% | +3.8% |
| 1981 | +12.5% | +8.9% |
| 1980 | +9.9% | +12.5% |
| 1979 | +10.1% | +13.3% |
| 1978 | +8.8% | +9.0% |
| 1977 | +8.9% | +6.7% |
| 1976 | +10.0% | +4.9% |
| 1975 | +9.8% | +6.9% |
| 1974 | +12.6% | +12.3% |
| 1973 | +5.3% | +8.7% |
| 1972 | +3.3% | +3.4% |
| 1971 | +4.6% | +3.3% |
| 1970 | +7.4% | +5.6% |
| 1969 | +6.2% | +6.2% |
| 1968 | +6.2% | +4.7% |
| 1967 | +6.3% | +3.0% |
| 1966 | +6.7% | +3.5% |
| 1965 | +2.8% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | +2.1% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | +2.5% | +1.6% |
| 1962 | +2.2% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | +3.1% | +0.7% |
| 1960 | +3.2% | +1.4% |
| 1959 | +3.8% | +1.7% |
| 1958 | +4.5% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | +4.7% | +2.9% |
| 1956 | +3.2% | +3.0% |
| 1955 | +3.3% | +0.4% |
| 1954 | +2.3% | -0.7% |
| 1953 | +3.5% | +0.7% |
| 1952 | +4.3% | +0.8% |
| 1951 | +5.8% | +6.0% |
| 1950 | +3.4% | +5.9% |
| 1949 | +1.4% | -2.1% |
| 1948 | +5.8% | +3.0% |
| 1947 | +6.9% | +8.8% |
December to December, except the first row. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SAM: Medical care services and medical goods, health insurance included. Source
Biggest moves
- Largest rises: 1974 (+12.6%), 1981 (+12.5%), 1982 (+11.0%).
- The smallest rise was 2023, at +0.5%.
Cite or link to this page
Citation
insytesBI. (2026). Medical care inflation since 1947. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, September 2026. https://www.insytesbi.com/calculators/inflation/medical-care/Link
<a href="https://www.insytesbi.com/calculators/inflation/medical-care/">Medical care inflation since 1947</a>Frequently asked questions
What is the inflation rate for medical care costs now?
1.5% over the 12 months to September 2026, against 3.7% for all prices.
When did medical care costs rise the most?
In 1974: +12.6% from December to December. Next were 1981 (+12.5%) and 1982 (+11.0%).
Have medical care costs risen faster than inflation?
Yes: since 2000 medical care costs have changed +127.7%, against +95.7% for all prices. Since 1947 the average is 4.89% a year, against 3.48% for everything.
Where do these numbers come from?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for medical care services and medical goods, health insurance included (series CUUR0000SAM, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), every month since 1947, refreshed after each monthly release.