Even with health insurance, health care costs are so high in the US and so out of sync with wages that some 100 million Americans currently have medical debt totalling $220 billion. But, that’s not all. Medical debt appears to result in housing insecurity for millions of Americans, according to new research, reports Kara Kenneyfor wrtv.com.
More than 20 million Americans owe at least $1,000 in medical debt. Prior studies have found a link between people facing medical debt and people forgoing both health care and mental health care.
The Johns Hopkins study finds a strong link between Americans with medical debt and Americans who struggle to pay their rent or mortgage. Housing insecurity, in turn, tends to lead to worse health.
Americans with medical debt had a 44 percent higher likelihood of not being able to pay their rent or mortgage than Americans without debt. Roughly 24 percent of Americans with medical debt faced housing instability. Six percent of Americans without debt faced housing instability.
Fifteen hundred and fifteen people participated in the Johns Hopkins study over three years. Of those, 240 or one in four reported having medical debt in 2024 and 60 of them reported housing instability the following year.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Roundup: Housing options for older adults
- Older adults traveling solo
- Aging in place: Safety at home
- Improve your health with a buddy
- Caregiving: Keeping Parents Healthy – Water, Walking, Watch out for Delirium
