Most Adults With Past-Due Medical Debt Owe Money to Hospitals

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation March 13, 2023
Michael Karpman

More than 15 percent of adults in the United States report past-due medical debt, with nearly 73 percent owing some or all of that debt to hospitals.

The Issue

Nonprofit hospitals—which account for 60 percent of U.S. hospitals—must provide charity care and community benefits to maintain tax-exempt status. However, these hospitals determine their own charity care eligibility criteria and researchers note financial assistance policies are often difficult to find and understand.

Key Findings

• Among adults who report owing past-due medical debt to hospitals:
  • 27.9 percent owe all of their debt to hospitals.
  • 45.1 percent owe their debt to hospitals and other providers.
• Adults with disabilities (29.5%) were more than twice as likely as those without disabilities...

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