Who Had Medical Debt in the United States?

19% of U.S. households could not afford to pay for medical care right away. Learn more in this America Counts story.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Who Had Medical Debt in the United States? Nineteen percent of U.S. households could not afford to pay for medical care up front or when they received care in 2017, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data on the burden of medical debt. The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) in 2018 added a new question about medical debt in the previous year. The survey asked whether respondents had "medical bills [they were] unable to pay in full." Read More In August, the Census Bureau released detailed tables on debt for households in 2017, by type of debt and selected characteristics of households that owed money for medical services. The tables show that medical debt was distributed disproportionately across groups based on socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and the health status of household members. This is the first time some of these stats are available. For example, a 2016 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation includes questions about medical debt but lacks some of the additional information on individuals and households available in the SIPP. Continue reading to learn more about: What is medical debt? Who has medical debt? Health, disability and medical debt Health coverage High medical debt Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This You May Be Interested Uninsured Rates Highest For Young Adults Aged 19 to 34: Adults ages 26 and 27 had the nation's highest uninsured rates at 18.3% and 17.5%, respectively. Learn More About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency preparedness, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Don't miss an America Counts story! Subscribe here.

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