According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care services are 465.01% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $93 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2026:Medical care services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.31% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care services costing $20 in the year 1985 would cost $113 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.73% during this same period, inflation for medical care services was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 6.04%, which is above the average yearly change for medical care services during the 1985-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for medical care services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $20.00 | 6.04% |
| 1986 | $21.54 | 7.72% |
| 1987 | $22.96 | 6.60% |
| 1988 | $24.45 | 6.46% |
| 1989 | $26.31 | 7.63% |
| 1990 | $28.75 | 9.26% |
| 1991 | $31.29 | 8.86% |
| 1992 | $33.67 | 7.59% |
| 1993 | $35.86 | 6.50% |
| 1994 | $37.71 | 5.17% |
| 1995 | $39.62 | 5.04% |
| 1996 | $41.07 | 3.67% |
| 1997 | $42.25 | 2.87% |
| 1998 | $43.61 | 3.23% |
| 1999 | $45.07 | 3.35% |
| 2000 | $47.01 | 4.30% |
| 2001 | $49.26 | 4.79% |
| 2002 | $51.76 | 5.07% |
| 2003 | $54.07 | 4.47% |
| 2004 | $56.79 | 5.02% |
| 2005 | $59.50 | 4.77% |
| 2006 | $61.96 | 4.14% |
| 2007 | $65.26 | 5.33% |
| 2008 | $68.03 | 4.24% |
| 2009 | $70.21 | 3.21% |
| 2010 | $72.67 | 3.50% |
| 2011 | $74.89 | 3.06% |
| 2012 | $77.82 | 3.90% |
| 2013 | $80.23 | 3.10% |
| 2014 | $82.14 | 2.38% |
| 2015 | $84.15 | 2.45% |
| 2016 | $87.43 | 3.91% |
| 2017 | $89.56 | 2.43% |
| 2018 | $91.51 | 2.17% |
| 2019 | $94.75 | 3.54% |
| 2020 | $99.43 | 4.94% |
| 2021 | $101.28 | 1.86% |
| 2022 | $105.63 | 4.29% |
| 2023 | $105.26 | -0.35% |
| 2024 | $108.22 | 2.82% |
| 2025 | $111.78 | 3.29% |
| 2026 | $113.00 | 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 |