In December, entrepreneur Mark Cuban took to the social media platform Bluesky to share his frustrations about the U.S. healthcare system, calling it “broken.” He didn't just complain—he offered solutions. 

One of his biggest suggestions? Make medical school free for all students. According to Cuban, eliminating tuition costs would encourage more people to become doctors, which could help shorten patient wait times and improve access to care.

He also pointed out a major financial burden on healthcare providers, referring to them as “subprime lenders.” In his view, doctors and hospitals are forced to bear the weight of unpaid deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. 

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When patients can't pay, providers raise prices to cover losses, which only makes healthcare even more expensive. Cuban said on Bluesky, “This is why healthcare pricing is horrific.”

The U.S. is known for having the most expensive healthcare system in the world. According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, in 2022, the country spent approximately $12,255 per person on healthcare—far more than any other high-income nation. 

By comparison, Switzerland, the second-highest spender, allocated $8,049 per person, while the average for other wealthy countries was $6,651. 

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Despite these sky-high costs, the U.S. ranks last among 10 peer nations in healthcare performance, according to a 2024 Commonwealth Fund report. The study found that the U.S. lags in access to care, health equity, and overall outcomes. In other words, Americans are paying more but getting less.

The high cost of healthcare isn't just a policy problem—it's a real struggle for millions of Americans. 

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that nearly half of U.S. adults say they have trouble affording healthcare, and one in four have faced serious financial problems due to medical bills. Around 25% of adults reported skipping or delaying care because of the cost.

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Medical debt is another major issue. According to a National Library of Medicine report, about 40% of adults in the U.S. have some form of medical or dental debt, and it's one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy. Cuban has spoken out about this, telling Wired in an interview  that without systemic reform, medical debt will continue to cripple many American families.

While the healthcare system has its flaws, there are steps individuals can take to protect themselves from massive medical bills. 

Having health insurance is one of the best ways to guard against unexpected expenses. According to the U.S. government, treating a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, while the American Association for Cancer Research says cancer treatment is at least $100,000 and expected to exceed $245 billion by 2030.

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