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Many Americans Still Can’t Pay Off Less than $5,000 in Medical Debt
For the second year in a row, Debt.com polled Americans to find how little it takes to end up in collections.
The finances of many Americans are so fragile, even a few thousand dollars in medical expenses can drive them from the doctor to the debt collector.
During the peak of the pandemic last year, Debt.com conducted its first-ever medical debt survey. Only 15 months apart, the results changed significantly.
In 2020, just under half (46 percent) of Americans said they had medical debt. This year? It’s up to an even 50 percent.
The number of Americans who had medical debt in collections dropped a full 10 percent over the past year – from 56 percent in 2020 to 46 percent this year.
The pandemic may have reshaped the world but one fact remains: Americans struggle to pay medical bills.
“Long after this awful pandemic finally ends, medical debt will still be here,” says Don Silvestri, president of Debt.com. “There’s no easy vaccine for medical debt. It will take help from federal and state lawmakers, and more education for consumers.”
Below are the biggest year-over-year changes Debt.com found quizzing Americans on their medical debt…
Do you have outstanding medical bills or medical debt?
Do you have outstanding medical bills or medical debt?
Yes
No
Percentage of respondents
45.87%
54.13%
Have your medical bills been sent to collections?
Yes
No
Unsure
Percentage of respondents
56.16%
30.78%
13.06%
How much do you owe?
Percentage of respondents
Less than $500
13.77%
$500 to less than $1,000
18.55%
$1,000 to less than $5,000
31.93%
$5,000 to less than $10,000
14.91%
$10,000 to less than $50,000
15.30%
$50,000 to less than $100,000
3.06%
$100,000 to less than $150,000
0.96%
$150,000 or more
1.53%
What type of health insurance do you have?
Percentage of respondents
Employer-provided
43.13%
Medicare or Medicaid
36.17%
Self-purchased through an exchange
8.90%
None
11.80%
What is the primary source of your medical debt?
Percentage of respondents
Hospitalization
24.80%
Diagnostic tests
21.68%
Emergency room
18.95%
Doctor visits
14.84%
Outpatient services
10.94%
Dental care
4.30%
Prescription drugs
3.71%
Nursing home/long-term care
0.78%
How did your insurance company respond to your medical bills?
Told me I received out-of-network care
Denied my claim
Percentage of respondents
55.80%
44.20%
Have you tried negotiating to lower the cost of your bills?
No
Yes, I tried to negotiate on my own
Yes, I used a medical bills advocate
Percentage of respondents
60.52%
34.55%
4.94%
Were you successful in this negotiation?
Yes
No
Percentage of respondents
27.47%
72.53%
Are you currently on a payment plan?
Yes
No
Percentage of respondents
36.50%
63.50%
Methodology: Debt.com surveyed 541 people and asked nine questions related to their medical debt. People responded from all 50 states and Washington, DC and were aged 18 and above. Responses were collected through SurveyMonkey. The survey was conducted from Sept. 7, 2021 to Sept. 28, 2021.
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