A new study reveals that medical debt is associated with poorer health status and increased mortality rates across U.S. counties, with racial minorities disproportionately affected. The cross-sectional study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from 2,943 U.S. counties to examine the relationship between medical debt and various health outcomes.
Researchers found that a 1% increase in the population with medical debt corresponded to 18.3 more physically unhealthy days and 17.9 more mentally unhealthy days per 1,000 people over 30 days. Additionally, this increase was linked to 1.12 years of potential life lost per 1,000 people and a rise of 7.51 per 100,000 person-years in age-adjusted all-cause mortality rates.
The study revealed significant racial disparities, with counties having fewer White residents and more Black residents showing higher rates of medical debt. Other factors associated with increased medical debt included lower education levels, higher poverty rates, lack of insurance, and unemployment.
The findings underscore medical debt as a crucial social determinant of public health. The study’s authors suggest that addressing this issue requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including government entities, healthcare systems, and employers. They recommend implementing policies such as paid sick leave, clear financial assistance programs, and improved cost-related communication with patients.
While the study provides valuable insights, the researchers acknowledge limitations, including potential underrepresentation of medical debt in less populous counties and the exclusion of individuals not in the credit system. The authors call for further research on the impact of COVID-19-related policies on medical debt and population health.
See “Medical debt is associated with population health and increased mortality” (March 7, 2024)
