For the third year in a row, Debt.com polled over 500 Americans about their medical debt. Respondents owe significantly less this year but are struggling to pay off even the smallest bills.
Nearly 6 in 10 agreed that “inflation has made it harder to pay my medical bills.” Now, over a quarter say that they’re skipping medical care because of their debt.
“We tend to think of inflation as annoying instead of dangerous,” Debt.com President Don Silvestri says. “But inflation means more than higher food and gas prices. It pervades everything we spend money on – including our physical health.”
Americans owe less than they did last year – 80 percent owed over $500, in 2022 only 40 percent owe as much. In fact, most respondents (59 percent) owe less than $500. This may sound like good news, but there’s a sad reason behind it.
Respondents are struggling twice as much to pay for basic medical care and are taking on debt for things like doctor’s visits and prescription medication.
Over a quarter of Americans are now skipping out on care because of their medical debt.
Below are more key findings from Debt.com’s research…
Over 4 in 10 have outstanding medical bills
More than a quarter have had their medical bills sent to collections
Americans are avoiding medical care because of their debt
Inflation has made it harder for most Americans to pay off their medical debt
Most adults are not on a payment plan
Methodology: Debt.com surveyed 542 adults and asked 11 questions about their experiences with natural disasters. People responded from all 50 states and Washington, DC, and were aged 18 and above. Responses were collected through SurveyMonkey. The survey was conducted on September 2, 2022.