Publication Date: November 4th, 2024
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): Health Disparities and Health Equity, Healthcare Access, Poverty, Social Determinants of Health
Author(s): Swendener A, MacDougall H, Jacobson I, Schroeder J, and Henning-Smith C
Medical debt, or medical costs owed for health care services, is a pressing issue across the U.S., with implications for health and well-being for those facing debt burden. While recognition of medical debt as a social problem is growing, details about who is most at risk of holding this debt remain less clear. We address this gap by examining the differences in the proportion of people with medical debt in collections and median amount of medical debt by rural-urban location. We also focus on additional differences within rural and urban communities of color.