In the first half of 2011, one in three persons was in a family experiencing financial burden of medical care, according to a National Health Interview Survey report (pdf) released by the CDC.
The report, "Financial Burden of Medical Care: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January-June 2011," found that one in five persons was in a family having problems paying medical bills, one in four persons was in a family paying medical bills over time and one in 10 persons was in a family that had medical bills they could not pay at all.
Data also indicated the chances of being in families with financial burden of medical care decreased for older adults. For example, children 17 years old and under were more than three times as likely as adults 75 and older to be in families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months.
U.S. Hospital Stay Costs Outpace Other Countries by More Than Three Fold
Rand Study: Without Individual Mandate, Individual Premiums Would Increase Only 2.4%
The report, "Financial Burden of Medical Care: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January-June 2011," found that one in five persons was in a family having problems paying medical bills, one in four persons was in a family paying medical bills over time and one in 10 persons was in a family that had medical bills they could not pay at all.
Data also indicated the chances of being in families with financial burden of medical care decreased for older adults. For example, children 17 years old and under were more than three times as likely as adults 75 and older to be in families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months.
More Articles on Healthcare Costs:
Massachusetts Legislation Aims to Cut Annual Healthcare Spending Growth in HalfU.S. Hospital Stay Costs Outpace Other Countries by More Than Three Fold
Rand Study: Without Individual Mandate, Individual Premiums Would Increase Only 2.4%