Medical Debt
More than two in five adults in the US have medical debt or trouble paying their medical bills, according to a study released yesterday by the Commonwealth Fund. According to study authors:
- Adults younger than 65 have considerably higher rates of medical debt and bill problems than those older than 65
- Adults younger than 65 who are uninsured have the highest debt levels, but even adults with continuous insurance have trouble paying bills
- About two-thirds of people with medical debt or difficulty paying bills went without necessary care because of the expense
A 12-page topic brief is available on the Commonwealth Fund’s website. The Kaiser Family Foundation summarizes the report in its daily health policy report.
Last Updated on July 23, 2013 by Kerrie Smyres
