Why the higher prices? Hospitals and doctors' offices are paying more for workers, in large part due to labor shortages, rising wages and high turnover. Prices have also been pushed higher by consolidation among hospitals. Over the past couple of decades, the price index for what the Labor Department classifies as medical care—which includes visits to doctors, hospital stays, prescription drugs and medical equipment—has risen roughly 40% faster than the overall pace of inflation. Healthcare tends to rise more quickly than overall inflation because of high labor costs in the sector, as well as advancements leading to new and more expensive drugs and treatments. Demand for healthcare is also increasing as the population ages. The average worker pays a premium of $114 a month out of pocket for their share of employer-provided insurance, or $525 a month for family coverage. Both figures are up roughly 30% from a decade ago.
