Longevity and Health: Korea vs. USA

How long we live is important — but how long we live in good health may matter even more. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Americans are now living fewer healthy years than before. In 2019, the average healthy life expectancy in the U.S. was 66 years, but by 2021 it had fallen to just 63.9 years.

This means that although Americans spend more on healthcare than any other nation, they are spending a greater share of their lives managing chronic illness. In contrast, Korea not only has a higher overall life expectancy but also a longer healthy life expectancy — meaning Koreans live both longer and healthier lives.

Life Expectancy vs. Healthy Life Expectancy

• Life Expectancy: How many years a person is expected to live on average.
• Healthy Life Expectancy: How many of those years are lived free of major illness or disability.

Korea leads in both. On average, Koreans live longer and enjoy more healthy years, resulting in a higher quality of life as they age.

Why Korea’s Health Checkup System Excels

Korea’s advantage is no accident — it’s built on decades of investment and culture around preventive care:

1. National Support
   • Backed by the National Health Insurance Service and Korea’s Basic Health Checkup Act, preventive screening is treated as a basic right.
2. Corporate Partnerships
   • Companies partner with checkup centers to provide comprehensive packages as employee benefits, pushing them to innovate and improve services.
3. Medical Tourism Growth
   • Since 2009, health checkups have been among the most popular services for international patients. Today, checkup centers offer English support and tailored packages to meet diverse global needs.

What This Means for U.S. Patients

In the U.S., high costs and limited access often delay preventive screening until symptoms appear. By then, valuable time for early detection may be lost.

Through Himedi, U.S. patients can easily book Full Body Checkups or advanced imaging like Whole Body MRI in Korea with English support, priority scheduling, and concierge assistance. Many visitors fit their checkups into the morning — leaving the afternoon free to enjoy their trip.

Not Just a Longer Life, But Healthier Years

Life expectancy in the U.S. is recovering slowly, but healthy life expectancy is shrinking. That’s why more Americans are looking abroad for preventive solutions — and finding them in Korea.

Plan your medical itinerary with Himedi.com