The cost of medical care has been a decades-old debate in America. Some argue health care should be free for all, while others support a privatized system. Regardless of where you fall on the issues, medical debt is a real concern for many Americans.
Nearly 4 million U.S. adults 65 and older reported unpaid medical bills in 2020, according to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report. Despite federal health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the same report found 68% of adults 65 and older who reported outstanding medical debt were covered by two or more insurance providers. Of those, 44% say they weren’t sure the bills they received were accurate, and 68% say they expected their insurance providers to cover part or all of the bill.
