As healthcare costs and insurance deductibles continue to creep upwards, Americans are finding unexpected medical bills more difficult to afford.
That finding comes from a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Researchers surveyed 1,008 U.S. adults between April 14 and April 18 on issues related to the U.S. economy and household finances.
Below are four findings.
1. Of participants making less than $50,000 annually, 75 percent said they would have difficulty affording an unexpected bill amounting to $1,000.
2. Of respondents that make between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, 67 percent said they would have difficulty affording a $1,000 surprise bill.
3. Of households making more than $100,000 annually, 38 percent said they would at least have some difficulty coming up with $1,000.
4. When faced with an unexpected $1,000 bill, a majority of respondents said they wouldn't likely have the money on hand to pay the bills. A third of respondents said they would have to use a credit care or borrow money from a bank, friends or family to pay. Thirteen percent said they would forgo paying other bills to afford the surprise bill and 11 percent said they woul likely not pay the bill at all.