According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care are 4,977.77% higher in 2026 versus 1944 (a $1,443,553.32 difference in value).
Between 1944 and 2026:Medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 4.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care costing $29,000 in the year 1944 would cost $1,472,553.32 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for medical care was higher.
In the year 1944: Pricing changed by 2.98%, which is below the average yearly change for medical care during the 1944-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1944 (1.64%), inflation for medical care was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care, over time, for $29,000 beginning in 1944. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | $29,000.00 | 2.98% |
| 1945 | $29,817.79 | 2.82% |
| 1946 | $31,222.70 | 4.71% |
| 1947 | $34,074.48 | 9.13% |
| 1948 | $36,171.37 | 6.15% |
| 1949 | $37,345.63 | 3.25% |
| 1950 | $38,037.60 | 1.85% |
| 1951 | $39,840.93 | 4.74% |
| 1952 | $42,021.69 | 5.47% |
| 1953 | $43,510.48 | 3.54% |
| 1954 | $44,852.49 | 3.08% |
| 1955 | $45,900.94 | 2.34% |
| 1956 | $47,578.45 | 3.65% |
| 1957 | $49,528.56 | 4.10% |
| 1958 | $51,898.05 | 4.78% |
| 1959 | $54,078.81 | 4.20% |
| 1960 | $55,986.98 | 3.53% |
| 1961 | $57,685.47 | 3.03% |
| 1962 | $59,216.20 | 2.65% |
| 1963 | $60,621.11 | 2.37% |
| 1964 | $61,858.28 | 2.04% |
| 1965 | $63,368.04 | 2.44% |
| 1966 | $66,177.87 | 4.43% |
| 1967 | $70,832.97 | 7.03% |
| 1968 | $75,131.60 | 6.07% |
| 1969 | $80,331.89 | 6.92% |
| 1970 | $85,427.33 | 6.34% |
| 1971 | $90,963.12 | 6.48% |
| 1972 | $93,898.77 | 3.23% |
| 1973 | $97,526.39 | 3.86% |
| 1974 | $106,605.93 | 9.31% |
| 1975 | $119,459.87 | 12.06% |
| 1976 | $130,825.02 | 9.51% |
| 1977 | $143,322.49 | 9.55% |
| 1978 | $155,421.55 | 8.44% |
| 1979 | $169,806.22 | 9.26% |
| 1980 | $188,405.64 | 10.95% |
| 1981 | $208,661.61 | 10.75% |
| 1982 | $232,880.69 | 11.61% |
| 1983 | $253,115.69 | 8.69% |
| 1984 | $268,884.31 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $285,638.47 | 6.23% |
| 1986 | $307,089.66 | 7.51% |
| 1987 | $327,471.44 | 6.64% |
| 1988 | $348,859.73 | 6.53% |
| 1989 | $375,553.15 | 7.65% |
| 1990 | $409,648.59 | 9.08% |
| 1991 | $445,421.55 | 8.73% |
| 1992 | $478,258.86 | 7.37% |
| 1993 | $506,797.54 | 5.97% |
| 1994 | $530,974.69 | 4.77% |
| 1995 | $554,753.43 | 4.48% |
| 1996 | $574,275.49 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $590,274.77 | 2.79% |
| 1998 | $609,272.60 | 3.22% |
| 1999 | $630,535.07 | 3.49% |
| 2000 | $656,117.14 | 4.06% |
| 2001 | $686,333.33 | 4.61% |
| 2002 | $718,646.42 | 4.71% |
| 2003 | $747,520.61 | 4.02% |
| 2004 | $780,378.89 | 4.40% |
| 2005 | $813,321.04 | 4.22% |
| 2006 | $845,927.69 | 4.01% |
| 2007 | $883,345.24 | 4.42% |
| 2008 | $916,085.05 | 3.71% |
| 2009 | $945,143.97 | 3.17% |
| 2010 | $977,408.62 | 3.41% |
| 2011 | $1,007,155.53 | 3.04% |
| 2012 | $1,044,060.18 | 3.66% |
| 2013 | $1,069,752.75 | 2.46% |
| 2014 | $1,095,312.39 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $1,124,148.41 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | $1,166,730.18 | 3.79% |
| 2017 | $1,196,037.58 | 2.51% |
| 2018 | $1,219,653.19 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $1,254,142.01 | 2.83% |
| 2020 | $1,305,630.33 | 4.11% |
| 2021 | $1,321,736.75 | 1.23% |
| 2022 | $1,375,275.62 | 4.05% |
| 2023 | $1,381,643.88 | 0.46% |
| 2024 | $1,418,775.62 | 2.69% |
| 2025 | $1,459,169.28 | 2.85% |
| 2026 | $1,472,553.32 | 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 |