The United States spends approximately twice as much on healthcare as other high-income countries, yet performs poorly in terms of health outcomes such as life expectancy and infant mortality. Despite higher spending, the US has similar utilization rates for healthcare services compared to other nations. The main drivers of the higher spending in the US are likely related to prices, including labor, goods, and administrative costs. Administrative costs in the US are significantly higher than in other countries. The study found that efforts targeting utilization alone are unlikely to reduce the gap in spending, and a more focused approach to reducing prices and administrative costs is needed. The findings challenge some common perceptions about the US healthcare system, such as underinvestment in social programs or an overreliance on specialist care. Instead, the data suggest that higher prices and administrative costs are the primary factors driving the higher spending in the US.The United States spends approximately twice as much on healthcare as other high-income countries, yet performs poorly in terms of health outcomes such as life expectancy and infant mortality. Despite higher spending, the US has similar utilization rates for healthcare services compared to other nations. The main drivers of the higher spending in the US are likely related to prices, including labor, goods, and administrative costs. Administrative costs in the US are significantly higher than in other countries. The study found that efforts targeting utilization alone are unlikely to reduce the gap in spending, and a more focused approach to reducing prices and administrative costs is needed. The findings challenge some common perceptions about the US healthcare system, such as underinvestment in social programs or an overreliance on specialist care. Instead, the data suggest that higher prices and administrative costs are the primary factors driving the higher spending in the US.