According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for medical care were 278.88% higher in 2021 versus 1988 (a $2,788.82 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2021: Medical care experienced an average inflation rate of 4.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, medical care costing $1,000 in the year 1988 would cost $3,788.82 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.54% during this same period, inflation for medical care was higher.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 6.53%, which is above the average yearly change for medical care during the 1988-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for medical care was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Medical care, over time, for $1,000 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $1,000.00 | 6.53% |
| 1989 | $1,076.57 | 7.66% |
| 1990 | $1,174.28 | 9.08% |
| 1991 | $1,276.81 | 8.73% |
| 1992 | $1,370.97 | 7.37% |
| 1993 | $1,452.75 | 5.97% |
| 1994 | $1,522.06 | 4.77% |
| 1995 | $1,590.25 | 4.48% |
| 1996 | $1,646.17 | 3.52% |
| 1997 | $1,692.06 | 2.79% |
| 1998 | $1,746.49 | 3.22% |
| 1999 | $1,807.47 | 3.49% |
| 2000 | $1,880.82 | 4.06% |
| 2001 | $1,967.43 | 4.60% |
| 2002 | $2,060.03 | 4.71% |
| 2003 | $2,142.82 | 4.02% |
| 2004 | $2,236.97 | 4.39% |
| 2005 | $2,331.41 | 4.22% |
| 2006 | $2,424.90 | 4.01% |
| 2007 | $2,532.15 | 4.42% |
| 2008 | $2,626.00 | 3.71% |
| 2009 | $2,709.30 | 3.17% |
| 2010 | $2,801.79 | 3.41% |
| 2011 | $2,887.06 | 3.04% |
| 2012 | $2,992.85 | 3.66% |
| 2013 | $3,066.50 | 2.46% |
| 2014 | $3,139.77 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $3,222.43 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | $3,344.49 | 3.79% |
| 2017 | $3,428.50 | 2.51% |
| 2018 | $3,496.19 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $3,595.06 | 2.83% |
| 2020 | $3,742.65 | 4.11% |
| 2021 | $3,788.82 | 1.23% |
| 2022 | $3,942.29 | 4.05% |
| 2023 | $3,960.55 | 0.46% |
| 2024 | $4,059.57 | 2.50%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 10.200 | 10.200 | 10.300 | 10.300 | 10.360 | 10.360 | 10.420 | 10.740 | 11.260 | 11.580 | 11.900 | 12.560 | 13.538 | 14.377 | 14.838 | 15.115 | 15.838 | 16.700 | 17.292 | 17.823 | 18.238 | 18.908 | 19.685 | 20.623 | 21.492 | 22.254 | 22.923 | 23.531 | 24.092 | 24.585 | 25.185 | 26.300 | 28.154 | 29.862 | 31.923 | 33.954 | 36.146 | 37.315 | 38.762 | 42.369 | 47.477 | 51.992 | 56.962 | 61.769 | 67.485 | 74.877 | 82.923 | 92.546 | 100.592 | 106.854 | 113.515 | 122.038 | 130.138 | 138.638 | 149.254 | 162.800 | 177.015 | 190.069 | 201.408 | 211.015 | 220.469 | 228.223 | 234.585 | 242.131 | 250.585 | 260.754 | 272.762 | 285.600 | 297.077 | 310.131 | 323.223 | 336.185 | 351.054 | 364.065 | 375.613 | 388.436 | 400.258 | 414.924 | 425.134 | 435.292 | 446.752 | 463.675 | 475.322 | 484.707 | 498.413 | 518.876 | 525.276 | 546.554 | 549.084 | 562.813 |