Black Americans are more likely to have medical debt than white Americans. A new report found that 13% of Black people have unpaid medical bills, compared to only 8% of white people.
There are a few main reasons for this difference:
Black Americans tend to have lower incomes and less savings to cover unexpected medical costs. They are also more likely to not have health insurance.
Black communities often have more health problems due to living in areas with environmental issues and having less access to healthy food and health care services. This means they may need more medical care.
Studies show that debt collectors go after Black patients more aggressively than white patients, even for small medical bills. They are more likely to sue Black patients or put liens on their homes.
Many Black patients say they experience racism and poor communication when getting medical care. This can make them avoid getting care until health issues become more serious and expensive to treat.
Nonprofit hospitals are supposed to offer financial assistance, but less than half of Black patients surveyed knew this was an option, compared to nearly 80% of white patients.
To help fix this unfair situation, experts say health care providers should stop suing patients, work with them on financial assistance, and communicate better about payment options. Policymakers also need to address the root causes like poverty, racism, and unequal access to health insurance and quality health care in Black communities.
The large gap in medical debt shows how racial inequality in health care continues to harm Black Americans financially. Reducing this burden will require major changes from hospitals, lawmakers, and society overall to make health care more affordable and fair for everyone.
