More than half of Americans are struggling to afford health care, with many carrying thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills, according to new research. The Commonwealth Fund Health Care Affordability Survey asked nearly 7,900 working-age adults how health care costs are affecting their lives. The survey revealed that 51% of respondents find paying for health care challenging, and 32% are burdened with $2,000 or more in medical debt, primarily related to ongoing health conditions rather than one-time, unexpected health events.
Additionally, 38% of participants reported skipping or delaying health care or prescription drugs due to the expense. About 30% said that healthcare costs are making it harder to afford essentials like food and utilities. These hardships are being felt across all types of insurance, including employer coverage, Medicaid, Medicare, and individual Marketplace plans.
The researchers are calling on state and federal governments to ban aggressive collection tactics to prevent financial ruin from medical debt. They also recommend that Congress permanently extend Marketplace subsidies, employers adjust premiums based on employee income, and Medicaid eliminate or limit co-payments.
