According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care services are 638.15% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $127.63 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: Medical care services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.76% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care services costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $147.63 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for medical care services was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 10.72%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for medical care services during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for medical care services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 10.72% |
| 1982 | $22.37 | 11.86% |
| 1983 | $24.32 | 8.73% |
| 1984 | $25.79 | 6.01% |
| 1985 | $27.35 | 6.04% |
| 1986 | $29.45 | 7.71% |
| 1987 | $31.40 | 6.60% |
| 1988 | $33.42 | 6.45% |
| 1989 | $35.97 | 7.63% |
| 1990 | $39.30 | 9.26% |
| 1991 | $42.79 | 8.86% |
| 1992 | $46.03 | 7.59% |
| 1993 | $49.03 | 6.50% |
| 1994 | $51.56 | 5.17% |
| 1995 | $54.17 | 5.05% |
| 1996 | $56.15 | 3.67% |
| 1997 | $57.76 | 2.87% |
| 1998 | $59.63 | 3.23% |
| 1999 | $61.63 | 3.35% |
| 2000 | $64.27 | 4.29% |
| 2001 | $67.35 | 4.79% |
| 2002 | $70.76 | 5.07% |
| 2003 | $73.93 | 4.47% |
| 2004 | $77.64 | 5.02% |
| 2005 | $81.35 | 4.78% |
| 2006 | $84.71 | 4.14% |
| 2007 | $89.23 | 5.33% |
| 2008 | $93.01 | 4.24% |
| 2009 | $95.99 | 3.21% |
| 2010 | $99.35 | 3.50% |
| 2011 | $102.40 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $106.39 | 3.90% |
| 2013 | $109.69 | 3.10% |
| 2014 | $112.30 | 2.38% |
| 2015 | $115.05 | 2.45% |
| 2016 | $119.54 | 3.91% |
| 2017 | $122.45 | 2.43% |
| 2018 | $125.11 | 2.17% |
| 2019 | $129.54 | 3.54% |
| 2020 | $135.94 | 4.94% |
| 2021 | $138.47 | 1.86% |
| 2022 | $144.41 | 4.29% |
| 2023 | $143.91 | -0.35% |
| 2024 | $147.63 | 2.58%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 8.275 | 8.317 | 8.400 | 8.400 | 8.480 | 8.500 | 8.520 | 8.760 | 9.240 | 9.620 | 9.880 | 10.480 | 11.380 | 12.140 | 12.540 | 12.840 | 13.480 | 14.360 | 14.840 | 15.280 | 15.760 | 16.315 | 17.015 | 17.862 | 18.723 | 19.492 | 20.208 | 20.877 | 21.492 | 22.015 | 22.700 | 23.923 | 26.008 | 27.923 | 30.177 | 32.323 | 34.677 | 35.938 | 37.538 | 41.377 | 46.592 | 51.262 | 56.354 | 61.231 | 67.185 | 74.762 | 82.777 | 92.592 | 100.677 | 106.731 | 113.177 | 121.908 | 129.954 | 138.338 | 148.892 | 162.677 | 177.085 | 190.523 | 202.915 | 213.415 | 224.185 | 232.408 | 239.077 | 246.800 | 255.062 | 266.015 | 278.762 | 292.885 | 305.969 | 321.331 | 336.677 | 350.615 | 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 | 611.021 |