WASHINGTON — Too many Americans are in bad financial shape because of mounting medical bills. But after a decade on the rise, the percentage of adults in financial distress due to health care costs is starting to decline.
The Commonwealth Fund, a health research group, says its latest nationwide survey shows the crisis is easing, though medical expenses still remain a burden for far too many.
The fund has been conducting large-scale telephone surveys of health care consumers since 2001, collecting data every two years. Last year, for the first time since the survey began, participants reported fewer problems paying medical bills or dealing with health care debt.
The percentage in financial distress declined from a high of 41 percent in 2012 to 35 percent in 2014. At the same time, the survey found that fewer adults delayed care because of the cost.
Study authors say it’s no coincidence that the improvement came as the number of uninsured Americans declined due to the Affordable Care Act.
All the same, more than a third of all Americans are still struggling to pay for medical care. The Federal Government’s Consumer Protection bureau says it’s concerned about the impact on consumers, noting that 43 million Americans currently have overdue medical debt on their credit reports.
