Survey Reveals Extent of Medical Debt for Americans
Recent survey results show that financial problems related to health care costs in the U.S. have increased over the past decade.
February 23, 2012
Unexpected illnesses, accidents and other health problems are a primary reason why many Americans are faced with the reality of a medical bankruptcy. Overwhelming medical debt is a primary cause of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings in Arizona and throughout the U.S.Recent survey results released by the Center for Studying Health System Change and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation show that financial problems related to health care costs have increased over the past decade. The proportion of Americans who have experienced difficulty paying medical bills increased by one third from 2003 to 2010.
The latest figures regarding the state of financial difficulties related to health care costs come from 2010, and reveal that:
- More than 20 percent of Americans are members of families that have had medical bill problems
- That figure rises to over 30 percent for Americans under 65 who do not have health insurance
- Nearly two-thirds of those who experienced medical bill struggles reported problems paying for other necessities, and half reported borrowing money as a result of unpaid medical expenses
- One in four had considered bankruptcy, and more than 20 percent of those who reported financial stress due to medical bills had filed for bankruptcy
The authors also pointed out that Americans who are covered by employer-provided health insurance can still suffer serious financial hardship, with many reporting that it will take more than five years to pay off medical debt.
Not surprisingly, medical expense difficulties were related to income level, yet the study discovered no differences between low- and middle-income families. The study considered only civilian families, and did not include institutionalized individuals, making the results all the more troubling.
A bankruptcy lawyer can explain a range of options for medical debt relief, and advise clients about strategies to avoid making debt problems worse during a time when family income may also be limited. Medical bills are usually fully dischargeable in the bankruptcy process, and the prospect of meaningful financial relief can be welcome news to people who have suffered more than their share of setbacks.
Article provided by Clark Law Offices
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