How Many Americans Have Medical Debt?

Americans Likely Owe Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Total Medical Debt. A new KFF analysis of government data estimates that nearly 1 in 10 adults (9%) – or roughly 23 million people – owe medical debt.

How common is medical debt in the US?

We find that 23 million people (nearly 1 in 10 adults) owe significant medical debt. The SIPP survey suggests people in the United States owe at least $195 billion in medical debt.

How many Americans face medical debt?

More than 17% of Americans had an outstanding medical bill in collections in 2020, according to a new study by the Journal of American Medical Association. Experts Investigate TV spoke with said medical bills can lead to poor credit scores, wage garnishments, and anxiety.