Costs of Care is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating change agents who will lead the creation of a more affordable and equitable health system.

We envision a world in which no one has to choose between their life and their life savings.

Nearly everyone who receives healthcare in the United States is at risk of receiving care that is so expensive it threatens their financial security. When people need health care they should trust that care will be as accessible and affordable as possible.

Since 2009, Costs of Care has collected personal accounts from physicians, nurses, and patients all over the United States that illustrate routine and high-yield opportunities to improve the value of care delivery.

We proudly direct the STARS program for medical and interprofessional students, catalyzing grassroots, student-led initiatives to advance health care value in medical education.

Costs of Care has also created widely adopted and enduring resources to educate medical trainees and clinicians about how to address health care costs and provide high-value care, including the textbook Understanding Value-Based Healthcare, the “COST” framework for designing value improvement projects, multiple workshops, and free video modules.

We have also developed national affordability frameworks that highlight key components for healthcare systems to develop initiatives focused on improving patient affordability.