There are lots of reasons why medical insurance is so expensive in the United States. One of the reasons has to do with the quality of care: you get what you pay for. The United States offers some of the most advanced medical care in the world, and that kind of care takes money to implement. There are other reasons, of course, such as regulatory pressures on the market and things like a desperate need for tort reform, that push the prices of medical care up and up.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, here are the top most expensive medical conditions in the United States:

• Heart conditions. Congestive heart failure. Bypass surgery. Myocardial infarctions. Some of the most common conditions are also among the most expensive in the country.
• Trauma disorders. This category includes accident-related medical services. It would include things like a broken arm from falling off a horse to injuries sustained during a car accident. These add up to $72 billion a year.
• Cancer. The “Big C” is the second leading cause of death in the United States, claiming half a million victims each year. Fighting cancer doesn’t come cheap, at around $69 billion each year.
• Mental disorders. From depression to anxiety to schizophrenia to autism, $55 billion was spent on mental disorders last year.
• Asthma and COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease includes things like bronchitis and emphysema, as well as some asthma. Asthma and COPD are among the leading causes of death in the U.S., and we spend about $53 billion a year treating them.
• Hypertension. High blood pressure is the “silent killer,” and a major factor in both stroke and heart failure. The bill for this one is $42 billion a year.
• Diabetes. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has doubled in the past decade and a half to around 14 and a half million people. $34 billion a year goes into treatment.
• Osteoarthritis and joint diseases. More than 27 million people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis or osteoarthritis. A sign of our aging population, this one adds up to around $34 million a year.
• Back problems. Back and spine problems are relatively expensive to treat, totaling $32 billion a year in spending.
• Childbirth. One of the most common medical issues in the country, live birth accounts for about $23 billion a year. It’s also the one medical condition on this list that people most often acquire on purpose.

Photo via House Of Sims