According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care are 1,487.59% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $1,636.35 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026, Medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 5.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care costing $110 in the year 1972 would cost $1,746.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% during this same period, inflation for medical care was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 3.23%, which is below the average yearly change for medical care during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for medical care was lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care, over time, for $110 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $110.00 | 3.23% |
| 1973 | $114.25 | 3.86% |
| 1974 | $124.89 | 9.31% |
| 1975 | $139.94 | 12.06% |
| 1976 | $153.26 | 9.51% |
| 1977 | $167.90 | 9.55% |
| 1978 | $182.07 | 8.44% |
| 1979 | $198.92 | 9.26% |
| 1980 | $220.71 | 10.95% |
| 1981 | $244.44 | 10.75% |
| 1982 | $272.81 | 11.61% |
| 1983 | $296.52 | 8.69% |
| 1984 | $314.99 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $334.62 | 6.23% |
| 1986 | $359.75 | 7.51% |
| 1987 | $383.62 | 6.64% |
| 1988 | $408.68 | 6.53% |
| 1989 | $439.95 | 7.65% |
| 1990 | $479.89 | 9.08% |
| 1991 | $521.80 | 8.73% |
| 1992 | $560.27 | 7.37% |
| 1993 | $593.70 | 5.97% |
| 1994 | $622.02 | 4.77% |
| 1995 | $649.88 | 4.48% |
| 1996 | $672.75 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $691.49 | 2.79% |
| 1998 | $713.75 | 3.22% |
| 1999 | $738.66 | 3.49% |
| 2000 | $768.62 | 4.06% |
| 2001 | $804.02 | 4.61% |
| 2002 | $841.88 | 4.71% |
| 2003 | $875.70 | 4.02% |
| 2004 | $914.19 | 4.40% |
| 2005 | $952.78 | 4.22% |
| 2006 | $990.98 | 4.01% |
| 2007 | $1,034.82 | 4.42% |
| 2008 | $1,073.17 | 3.71% |
| 2009 | $1,107.21 | 3.17% |
| 2010 | $1,145.01 | 3.41% |
| 2011 | $1,179.86 | 3.04% |
| 2012 | $1,223.09 | 3.66% |
| 2013 | $1,253.19 | 2.46% |
| 2014 | $1,283.13 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $1,316.91 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | $1,366.79 | 3.79% |
| 2017 | $1,401.13 | 2.51% |
| 2018 | $1,428.79 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $1,469.20 | 2.83% |
| 2020 | $1,529.51 | 4.11% |
| 2021 | $1,548.38 | 1.23% |
| 2022 | $1,611.10 | 4.05% |
| 2023 | $1,618.56 | 0.46% |
| 2024 | $1,662.06 | 2.69% |
| 2025 | $1,711.16 | 2.95% |
| 2026 | $1,746.35 | 2.06%* |
* 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 | 580.498 | 592.435 |