According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care are 5,637.38% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $422,803,676,470.59 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2026: Medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 4.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care costing $7,500,000,000 in the year 1935 would cost $430,303,676,470.59 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for medical care was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care, over time, for $7,500,000,000 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | $7,500,000,000.00 | - |
| 1936 | $7,500,000,000.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1937 | $7,561,274,509.80 | 0.82% |
| 1938 | $7,573,529,411.76 | 0.16% |
| 1939 | $7,616,421,568.63 | 0.57% |
| 1940 | $7,610,294,117.65 | -0.08% |
| 1941 | $7,653,186,274.51 | 0.56% |
| 1942 | $7,855,392,156.86 | 2.64% |
| 1943 | $8,229,166,666.67 | 4.76% |
| 1944 | $8,474,264,705.88 | 2.98% |
| 1945 | $8,713,235,294.12 | 2.82% |
| 1946 | $9,123,774,509.80 | 4.71% |
| 1947 | $9,957,107,843.14 | 9.13% |
| 1948 | $10,569,852,941.18 | 6.15% |
| 1949 | $10,912,990,196.08 | 3.25% |
| 1950 | $11,115,196,078.43 | 1.85% |
| 1951 | $11,642,156,862.75 | 4.74% |
| 1952 | $12,279,411,764.71 | 5.47% |
| 1953 | $12,714,460,784.31 | 3.54% |
| 1954 | $13,106,617,647.06 | 3.08% |
| 1955 | $13,412,990,196.08 | 2.34% |
| 1956 | $13,903,186,274.51 | 3.65% |
| 1957 | $14,473,039,215.69 | 4.10% |
| 1958 | $15,165,441,176.47 | 4.78% |
| 1959 | $15,802,696,078.43 | 4.20% |
| 1960 | $16,360,294,117.65 | 3.53% |
| 1961 | $16,856,617,647.06 | 3.03% |
| 1962 | $17,303,921,568.63 | 2.65% |
| 1963 | $17,714,460,784.31 | 2.37% |
| 1964 | $18,075,980,392.16 | 2.04% |
| 1965 | $18,517,156,862.75 | 2.44% |
| 1966 | $19,338,235,294.12 | 4.43% |
| 1967 | $20,698,529,411.76 | 7.03% |
| 1968 | $21,954,656,862.75 | 6.07% |
| 1969 | $23,474,264,705.88 | 6.92% |
| 1970 | $24,963,235,294.12 | 6.34% |
| 1971 | $26,580,882,352.94 | 6.48% |
| 1972 | $27,438,725,490.20 | 3.23% |
| 1973 | $28,498,774,509.80 | 3.86% |
| 1974 | $31,151,960,784.31 | 9.31% |
| 1975 | $34,908,088,235.29 | 12.06% |
| 1976 | $38,229,166,666.67 | 9.51% |
| 1977 | $41,881,127,450.98 | 9.55% |
| 1978 | $45,416,666,666.67 | 8.44% |
| 1979 | $49,620,098,039.22 | 9.26% |
| 1980 | $55,055,147,058.82 | 10.95% |
| 1981 | $60,974,264,705.88 | 10.75% |
| 1982 | $68,051,470,588.24 | 11.61% |
| 1983 | $73,964,460,784.31 | 8.69% |
| 1984 | $78,572,303,921.57 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $83,468,137,254.90 | 6.23% |
| 1986 | $89,736,519,607.84 | 7.51% |
| 1987 | $95,692,401,960.78 | 6.64% |
| 1988 | $101,942,401,960.78 | 6.53% |
| 1989 | $109,742,647,058.82 | 7.65% |
| 1990 | $119,705,882,352.94 | 9.08% |
| 1991 | $130,159,313,725.49 | 8.73% |
| 1992 | $139,754,901,960.78 | 7.37% |
| 1993 | $148,094,362,745.10 | 5.97% |
| 1994 | $155,159,313,725.49 | 4.77% |
| 1995 | $162,107,843,137.25 | 4.48% |
| 1996 | $167,812,500,000.00 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $172,487,745,098.04 | 2.79% |
| 1998 | $178,039,215,686.27 | 3.22% |
| 1999 | $184,252,450,980.39 | 3.49% |
| 2000 | $191,727,941,176.47 | 4.06% |
| 2001 | $200,557,598,039.22 | 4.61% |
| 2002 | $210,000,000,000.00 | 4.71% |
| 2003 | $218,437,500,000.00 | 4.02% |
| 2004 | $228,039,215,686.27 | 4.40% |
| 2005 | $237,665,441,176.47 | 4.22% |
| 2006 | $247,193,627,450.98 | 4.01% |
| 2007 | $258,127,634,803.92 | 4.42% |
| 2008 | $267,694,730,392.16 | 3.71% |
| 2009 | $276,186,213,235.29 | 3.17% |
| 2010 | $285,614,460,784.31 | 3.41% |
| 2011 | $294,306,985,294.12 | 3.04% |
| 2012 | $305,091,115,196.08 | 3.66% |
| 2013 | $312,598,897,058.82 | 2.46% |
| 2014 | $320,067,830,882.35 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $328,494,178,921.57 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | $340,937,254,901.96 | 3.79% |
| 2017 | $349,501,348,039.22 | 2.51% |
| 2018 | $356,402,205,882.35 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $366,480,392,156.86 | 2.83% |
| 2020 | $381,526,102,941.18 | 4.11% |
| 2021 | $386,232,659,313.73 | 1.23% |
| 2022 | $401,877,573,529.41 | 4.05% |
| 2023 | $403,738,480,392.16 | 0.46% |
| 2024 | $414,588,970,588.24 | 2.69% |
| 2025 | $426,392,647,058.82 | 2.85% |
| 2026 | $430,303,676,470.59 | 0.92%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 10.200 | 10.200 | 10.283 | 10.300 | 10.358 | 10.350 | 10.408 | 10.683 | 11.192 | 11.525 | 11.850 | 12.408 | 13.542 | 14.375 | 14.842 | 15.117 | 15.833 | 16.700 | 17.292 | 17.825 | 18.242 | 18.908 | 19.683 | 20.625 | 21.492 | 22.250 | 22.925 | 23.533 | 24.092 | 24.583 | 25.183 | 26.300 | 28.150 | 29.858 | 31.925 | 33.950 | 36.150 | 37.317 | 38.758 | 42.367 | 47.475 | 51.992 | 56.958 | 61.767 | 67.483 | 74.875 | 82.925 | 92.550 | 100.592 | 106.858 | 113.517 | 122.042 | 130.142 | 138.642 | 149.250 | 162.800 | 177.017 | 190.067 | 201.408 | 211.017 | 220.467 | 228.225 | 234.583 | 242.133 | 250.583 | 260.750 | 272.758 | 285.600 | 297.075 | 310.133 | 323.225 | 336.183 | 351.054 | 364.065 | 375.613 | 388.436 | 400.257 | 414.924 | 425.134 | 435.292 | 446.752 | 463.675 | 475.322 | 484.707 | 498.413 | 518.875 | 525.276 | 546.553 | 549.084 | 563.841 | 579.894 | 585.213 |