According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care services are 7,596.55% higher in 2026 versus 1936 (a $1,519.31 difference in value).
Between 1936 and 2026:Medical care services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care services costing $20 in the year 1936 would cost $1,539.31 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for medical care services was higher.
In the year 1936: Pricing changed by 0.59%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for medical care services during the 1936-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1936 (1.03%), inflation for medical care services was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1936. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $20.00 | 0.59% |
| 1937 | $20.22 | 1.10% |
| 1938 | $20.22 | 0.00% ** |
| 1939 | $20.36 | 0.69% |
| 1940 | $20.46 | 0.49% |
| 1941 | $20.48 | 0.10% |
| 1942 | $20.94 | 2.25% |
| 1943 | $22.07 | 5.36% |
| 1944 | $23.05 | 4.45% |
| 1945 | $23.65 | 2.61% |
| 1946 | $24.91 | 5.34% |
| 1947 | $27.16 | 9.02% |
| 1948 | $28.93 | 6.50% |
| 1949 | $30.13 | 4.16% |
| 1950 | $30.73 | 2.00% |
| 1951 | $32.22 | 4.83% |
| 1952 | $34.28 | 6.41% |
| 1953 | $35.55 | 3.69% |
| 1954 | $36.61 | 2.99% |
| 1955 | $37.77 | 3.18% |
| 1956 | $39.28 | 3.98% |
| 1957 | $40.96 | 4.29% |
| 1958 | $42.99 | 4.95% |
| 1959 | $45.08 | 4.85% |
| 1960 | $46.92 | 4.09% |
| 1961 | $48.65 | 3.68% |
| 1962 | $50.25 | 3.30% |
| 1963 | $51.74 | 2.95% |
| 1964 | $53.00 | 2.44% |
| 1965 | $54.64 | 3.10% |
| 1966 | $57.59 | 5.40% |
| 1967 | $62.61 | 8.71% |
| 1968 | $67.22 | 7.37% |
| 1969 | $72.64 | 8.06% |
| 1970 | $77.81 | 7.13% |
| 1971 | $83.47 | 7.27% |
| 1972 | $86.52 | 3.65% |
| 1973 | $90.37 | 4.45% |
| 1974 | $99.60 | 10.21% |
| 1975 | $112.16 | 12.61% |
| 1976 | $123.39 | 10.02% |
| 1977 | $135.65 | 9.93% |
| 1978 | $147.40 | 8.67% |
| 1979 | $161.73 | 9.72% |
| 1980 | $179.96 | 11.28% |
| 1981 | $199.26 | 10.72% |
| 1982 | $222.89 | 11.86% |
| 1983 | $242.35 | 8.73% |
| 1984 | $256.93 | 6.02% |
| 1985 | $272.44 | 6.04% |
| 1986 | $293.46 | 7.72% |
| 1987 | $312.82 | 6.60% |
| 1988 | $333.02 | 6.46% |
| 1989 | $358.42 | 7.63% |
| 1990 | $391.59 | 9.26% |
| 1991 | $426.28 | 8.86% |
| 1992 | $458.64 | 7.59% |
| 1993 | $488.47 | 6.50% |
| 1994 | $513.74 | 5.17% |
| 1995 | $539.66 | 5.04% |
| 1996 | $559.46 | 3.67% |
| 1997 | $575.51 | 2.87% |
| 1998 | $594.10 | 3.23% |
| 1999 | $613.98 | 3.35% |
| 2000 | $640.36 | 4.30% |
| 2001 | $671.03 | 4.79% |
| 2002 | $705.04 | 5.07% |
| 2003 | $736.53 | 4.47% |
| 2004 | $773.52 | 5.02% |
| 2005 | $810.45 | 4.77% |
| 2006 | $844.01 | 4.14% |
| 2007 | $888.99 | 5.33% |
| 2008 | $926.64 | 4.24% |
| 2009 | $956.39 | 3.21% |
| 2010 | $989.87 | 3.50% |
| 2011 | $1,020.21 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $1,060.00 | 3.90% |
| 2013 | $1,092.90 | 3.10% |
| 2014 | $1,118.87 | 2.38% |
| 2015 | $1,146.25 | 2.45% |
| 2016 | $1,191.01 | 3.91% |
| 2017 | $1,219.99 | 2.43% |
| 2018 | $1,246.47 | 2.17% |
| 2019 | $1,290.61 | 3.54% |
| 2020 | $1,354.42 | 4.94% |
| 2021 | $1,379.57 | 1.86% |
| 2022 | $1,438.82 | 4.29% |
| 2023 | $1,433.83 | -0.35% |
| 2024 | $1,474.23 | 2.82% |
| 2025 | $1,522.72 | 3.29% |
| 2026 | $1,539.31 | 1.09%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Medical care services:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 8.260 | 8.308 | 8.400 | 8.400 | 8.458 | 8.500 | 8.508 | 8.700 | 9.167 | 9.575 | 9.825 | 10.350 | 11.283 | 12.017 | 12.517 | 12.767 | 13.383 | 14.242 | 14.767 | 15.208 | 15.692 | 16.317 | 17.017 | 17.858 | 18.725 | 19.492 | 20.208 | 20.875 | 21.492 | 22.017 | 22.700 | 23.925 | 26.008 | 27.925 | 30.175 | 32.325 | 34.675 | 35.942 | 37.542 | 41.375 | 46.592 | 51.258 | 56.350 | 61.233 | 67.183 | 74.758 | 82.775 | 92.592 | 100.675 | 106.733 | 113.175 | 121.908 | 129.950 | 138.342 | 148.892 | 162.675 | 177.083 | 190.525 | 202.917 | 213.417 | 224.183 | 232.408 | 239.075 | 246.800 | 255.058 | 266.017 | 278.758 | 292.883 | 305.967 | 321.333 | 336.675 | 350.617 | 369.302 | 384.943 | 397.299 | 411.208 | 423.810 | 440.341 | 454.007 | 464.798 | 476.171 | 494.766 | 506.804 | 517.805 | 536.142 | 562.650 | 573.096 | 597.710 | 595.636 | 612.418 | 632.563 | 639.455 |