• 08
  • December
    2011

Americans suffering from chronic illness or serious health problems are more likely to struggle paying their medical bills or have difficulties obtaining needed care because of cost than adults suffering from similar problems in other high-income countries. That was the finding of a study released by the Commonwealth Fund last month which polled over 18,000 adults in the United States and 10 other high-income countries.

As our readers know, medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy. Studies have estimated that over 60 percent of bankruptcies are prompted by medical debt. Whatever the exact numbers, it is clear that Americans struggle in this area.

The study-which surveyed 1,200 people by phone-found that 42 percent of the participants went without care because of high costs. Over a quarter of participants said they were unable to pay or had serious problems paying medical bills. Around 51 percent of American adults under the age of 65 reported that they went without care because of costs, compared with 19 percent of adults 65 and over who said they were covered by Medicare.

Between 1 and 14 percent of participants in other countries-which included Austraila, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland-said they struggled to pay medical bills.

Additionally, over one third of American patients polled said they paid over $1,000 in medical costs over the past year. Less than 10 percent of those polled in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom paid that amount over the last year.

In addition, the study also reported wide gaps in access to healthcare in America as well as gaps in the coordination of their care.

There are a number of reasons why folks get to a point where bankruptcy is their best option, but medical debt is certainly one of the most frequent causes. Those who suffer from burdensome medical debts should realize they are not alone.

Source: MSNBC, "Sick Americans more likely to be in medical debt," Julie Steenhysen, November 9, 2001.