Families Continue to Struggle With Paying for Medical Care

For January through June 2011, one-third of people in the United States were members of families having difficulties paying for medical care, according to a March 2012 report.¹ One in five people was in a family having problems paying medical bills, one in four was in a family paying medical bills over time, and one in 10 was in a family that had medical bills that it was unable to pay at all. The incidence of being in a family experiencing the financial burden of medical care decreased among those over 65 years old and was most pronounced in those 17 years old or younger (see figure).
Figure National Health Interview Survey estimates for the first half of 2011; adapted from the National Center for Health Statistics.¹