Medical care priced at $16.89 in 2005 → $30.58 in 2026

Medical Care Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Medical Care, 2005-2026 ($16.89)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care are 81.05% higher in 2026 versus 2005 (a $13.69 difference in value).

Between 2005 and 2026: Medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 2.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care costing $16.89 in the year 2005 would cost $30.58 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.44% during this same period, inflation for medical care was higher.

In the year 2005: Pricing changed by 4.22%, which is above the average yearly change for medical care during the 2005-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2005 (3.39%), inflation for medical care was higher.

Price Inflation for Medical care since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1975 (12.06%), 1982 (11.61%), and 1980 (10.95%).
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Buying power of $16.89 since 2005

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care, over time, for $16.89 beginning in 2005. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2005$16.894.22%
2006$17.574.01%
2007$18.344.42%
2008$19.023.71%
2009$19.633.17%
2010$20.303.41%
2011$20.923.04%
2012$21.683.66%
2013$22.222.46%
2014$22.752.39%
2015$23.342.63%
2016$24.233.79%
2017$24.842.51%
2018$25.331.97%
2019$26.042.83%
2020$27.114.11%
2021$27.451.23%
2022$28.564.05%
2023$28.690.46%
2024$29.462.69%
2025$30.302.85%
2026$30.580.92%*

* 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:

Year19351936193719381939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI10.20010.20010.28310.30010.35810.35010.40810.68311.19211.52511.85012.40813.54214.37514.84215.11715.83316.70017.29217.82518.24218.90819.68320.62521.49222.25022.92523.53324.09224.58325.18326.30028.15029.85831.92533.95036.15037.31738.75842.36747.47551.99256.95861.76767.48374.87582.92592.550100.592106.858113.517122.042130.142138.642149.250162.800177.017190.067201.408211.017220.467228.225234.583242.133250.583260.750272.758285.600297.075310.133323.225336.183351.054364.065375.613388.436400.257414.924425.134435.292446.752463.675475.322484.707498.413518.875525.276546.553549.084563.841579.894585.213

Adjust medical care prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2005 * 2005 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Medical care was 323.225 in the year 2005 and 585.213 in 2026:

585.213 / 323.225 * $16.89 = $30.58

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $16.89 in 2005 has the same "purchasing power" as $30.58 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Medical care).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Medical care in 1935. In addition to medical care, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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