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US
United States
Quick Facts
- JCI hospitals
- 0
- Clinics in registry
- 0
- Regulatory body
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Visa
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending
- Timezone
- ET/CT/MT/PT (UTC-5 to UTC-8)
- Currency
- US Dollar
Practical information
Emergency numbers
- Police / Ambulance / Fire (unified)911
Language
English
Local authorities
Sources CIA World Factbook — United States (accessed 2026-07-05)
Regulation, recourse and logistics
Regulatory bodies
Recourse mechanisms
- Complaint to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Patients may direct concerns to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the national regulatory body recorded for the United States in this registry.
- HHS patients' rights information
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes information on patients' rights on the civil-rights section of its website.
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous states border Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the semi-exclave of Alaska in the northwest and the archipelago of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The United States also asserts sovereignty over five major island territories and various uninhabited islands in Oceania and the Caribbean. It is a megadiverse country, with the world's third-largest land area and third-largest population, exceeding 341 million.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
The CIA World Factbook records a physician density of 3.68 per 1,000 population (2022) and around 2.7 hospital beds per 1,000 (2020 est.).
- Regulatory Body
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- JCI-Accredited Facilities
- 0
- Visa Notes
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
- Patient Rights
- Official resource
Malpractice Framework
Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
Healthcare System
Healthcare in the United States is largely provided by private sector healthcare facilities, and paid for by a combination of public programs, county indigent health care programs, private insurance, and out-of-pocket payments. The U.S. is the only developed country without a system of universal healthcare, with around 92% of the population covered under some kind of health insurance for some, or all of the year. The United States spends more on healthcare than any other country, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of GDP; however, this expenditure does not necessarily translate into better overall health outcomes compared to other developed nations. In 2022, the United States spent approximately 17.8% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare, significantly higher than the average of 11.5% among other high-income countries. Coverage varies across the population with certain groups. This includes the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals receiving more comprehensive care through government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
Practical Information
Healthcare in the United States is largely provided by private-sector facilities and paid for through a combination of public programmes, private insurance and out-of-pocket payments; there is no system of universal healthcare, and more comprehensive cover through government programmes such as Medicare and Medicaid applies to groups including the elderly, disabled and low-income individuals. Costs and payment arrangements should therefore be confirmed with the treating facility, and with an insurer where cover applies, before travel. The UK Foreign Office advises travellers to research their destination and obtain appropriate travel insurance covering their itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. Care is delivered in English, with Spanish also used in medical settings. The currency is the US dollar, and the unified emergency number for police, ambulance and fire is 911. Visa and entry rules are not documented in this registry's current sources, so travellers should check official US government guidance for their nationality before booking treatment.
Common Procedures
United States — Frequently Asked Questions
Is there universal healthcare in the United States?
No. The United States is the only developed country without a system of universal healthcare. Care is largely provided by private-sector facilities and paid for through a combination of public programmes, private insurance and out-of-pocket payments; around 92% of the population holds some kind of health insurance for some or all of the year. The elderly, disabled and low-income individuals receive more comprehensive care through government programmes such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Who is the national health regulator in the United States?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the national regulatory body recorded for the United States in this registry; its website is fda.gov. Information on patients' rights is published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the patients' rights pages of its website, which is the reference point for what patients are entitled to expect.
Do I need travel insurance for a medical trip to the United States?
The UK Foreign Office advises that no travel can be guaranteed safe and that travellers should research their destination and obtain appropriate travel insurance; a policy should cover the itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. Because care in the United States is paid for through a combination of public programmes, private insurance and out-of-pocket payments, cover and costs should be confirmed with the insurer and the treating facility before travel.
What are the emergency numbers and language of care in the United States?
Dial 911, the unified emergency number for police, ambulance and fire services. Care is delivered in English, with Spanish also used in medical settings. The mainland United States spans four main time zones, from Eastern Time to Pacific Time (UTC-5 to UTC-8), and the currency is the US dollar (USD).