Why should you care about polarization? Consider this: in 1960, the U.S. spent $146 per resident on health care each year. By 2020, that amount had shot up to $12,118. It’s forecast to reach $16,798 by 2027.

Americans paid more than $400 billion out of pocket for health care in 2020. That’s up from around $200 billion in 2000, and $13 billion in 1960.

The U.S. spends a greater share of its GDP on health care than any other developed country. In 2020, health care ate up a whopping 18% of our economy, up from 5% in 1960.

Whether you love or hate what Congress has done in recent years on health care, one thing is for sure: they haven’t managed to contain the runaway costs that are hurting all of us. Want to make health care affordable and accessible for Americans? Start by tackling polarization.