Medical Bills Make People Skip Needed Care
People who owe money for hospital visits often postpone going to the doctor, dentist or therapist. A study using data from a 2023 national health survey found that about ten percent of nearly thirty thousand U.S. adults had medical debt, meaning they struggled to pay any health‑related bills in the past year.
Key Findings
- Dental Visits
- Debt‑bearing: >40% postponed dental care.
Debt‑free: <20% did so.
- Medical Appointments
- Over a quarter of debt‑bearing adults avoided medical appointments.
Only ~5% of those without debt skipped such visits.
- Mental‑Health Services
- Roughly 14% of indebted individuals postponed mental‑health visits versus 5% of debt‑free respondents.
- Insurance Status
- Uninsured: 33% delayed care.
- Insured: 17% delayed.
Debt by Coverage Type
| Group | % with Medical Debt |
|---|---|
| Uninsured | 19% |
| Medicaid recipients | 13% |
| Commercial‑plan holders | 9% |
| Medicare users | 8% |
The Hidden Cost of Skipping Care
Routine check‑ups are essential. Poor oral hygiene, for instance, is linked to heart disease and cognitive decline—showing how deferred care can lead to more serious health problems.
Call to Action
The researchers urged that policies should make health services more affordable and reduce the ripple effects of medical debt on society.
Additional insights on the national medical‑debt problem are available from the Roosevelt Institute.
