2022 study shows 1 in 5 Americans face high medical bills, contributing to $88B in outstanding medical debt, with uneven distribution among Black and Hispanic people and Southern states.
1 in 5 Americans faces high medical bills, contributing to $88 billion in outstanding medical debt, according to a 2022 study. Uneven distribution of medical debt shows a prevalence among Black and Hispanic people and in Southern states due to limited Medicaid expansion. To relieve medical bill burden, patients can first check if they qualify for hospital charity care, which non-profit hospitals are legally obligated to provide. They can also challenge bills under the No Surprises Act, a federal law that protects people with private or marketplace insurance. Furthermore, patients can request an itemized bill to identify and contest unnecessary or inflated charges.
August 12, 2024
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