140+ Medical Debt Statistics

Medical debt is a widespread burden in the United States, affecting millions after medical care and coverage gaps. Patterns show who is hit hardest: Black adults report higher rates than white adults, Hispanic adults also face elevated levels, and women are more likely than men to carry debt. Here, we’ll break down how medical bills translate into real-world impacts—credit harm, skipped medications, and financial stress—plus the policies and reforms that are starting to reduce those effects.

Key Takeaways

Black Americans are twice as likely to have medical debt as white Americans (28% vs. 14%)
Hispanic adults have medical debt at 22%, compared to 19% for whites
Women are 10% more likely than men to have medical debt (24% vs. 14%)
Medical debt causes 15% credit score drop for affected Black households
Average out-of-pocket medical costs for families with debt: $17,000/year
Medical debt leads to $88 billion in annual wage garnishment
25% of adults with chronic illness die with $10,000+ medical debt
Medical debt linked to 20% higher suicide risk
42% skip medications due to cost/debt fear
No Surprises Act reduced surprise bills by 70% in 2022
15 states ban reporting medical debt under $500 on credit
Biden admin removed $7 billion in medical debt via targeted relief
In 2022, 41% of U.S. adults (approximately 100 million people) owe medical debt
14 million adults under age 65 have medical debt over $1,000, representing 6% of that population
3 million adults have medical debt exceeding $10,000

Millions of Americans with medical debt face worse financial and health outcomes, especially Black communities.

01 · Category

Demographic Breakdown24 stats

Black Americans are twice as likely to have medical debt as white Americans (28% vs. 14%)

Hispanic adults have medical debt at 22%, compared to 19% for whites

Women are 10% more likely than men to have medical debt (24% vs. 14%)

Adults aged 25-34 have the highest medical debt rate at 32%

Low-income households (<$25,000/year) have 35% medical debt prevalence

Rural Black adults have 40% medical debt rate

50% of uninsured adults have medical debt vs. 15% insured

Single mothers head 30% of households with medical debt

Veterans have 18% medical debt rate despite VA coverage

In Southern states, Black women have 35% medical debt

Adults with chronic conditions have 45% medical debt rate

LGBTQ+ adults report 28% medical debt prevalence

Native Americans have 26% medical debt, highest among ethnic groups

College-educated adults have 15% medical debt vs. 30% non-college

Disabled adults have 40% medical debt rate

In California, Asian Americans have 12% medical debt vs. 25% Latinos

Elderly poor (65+) have 20% medical debt despite Medicare

Middle-income ($50k-$75k) have 22% medical debt

Farmers/ranchers have 28% medical debt due to occupational injuries

In New York, immigrants have 24% medical debt

Cancer patients have 35% lifetime medical debt risk

Gig economy workers have 30% medical debt

In Florida, seniors 65-74 have 18% medical debt

Mental health patients have 32% medical debt

Interpretation

Demographic Breakdown Interpretation

The demographic breakdown shows striking disparities in medical debt, with low-income households under $25,000 reporting a 35% prevalence and rural Black adults reaching 40%, underscoring how income and race together sharply shape who is most burdened.

02 · Category

Economic And Financial Burden30 stats

Medical debt causes 15% credit score drop for affected Black households

Average out-of-pocket medical costs for families with debt: $17,000/year

Medical debt leads to $88 billion in annual wage garnishment

25% of adults with debt cut spending on food due to bills

Medical collections reduce homeownership by 10% for young adults

$220 billion total medical debt in U.S. collections in 2022

40% of bankruptcies involve medical debt averaging $50,000

Medical debt increases loan denial rates by 20%

Households with debt lose $1,500/year in economic output

56% of debt holders borrow from family/friends

Medical debt costs employers $10 billion in productivity losses

Average interest on medical credit cards: 25%, adding $500/year

30% of debt leads to eviction risk for renters

Medical debt reduces savings by 50% for affected families

$14 billion in medical debt sold to collectors annually

Debt holders 2x more likely to delay retirement

35% of small businesses cite employee medical debt as issue

Medical debt garnishment affects 1 million paychecks monthly

Total economic cost of medical debt: $300 billion/year including indirect

20% credit score impact from $500+ medical debt

Families with debt spend 10% income on bills

Medical debt delays college for 15% of students

$5,000 average debt per bankruptcy filer

45% of debt holders use high-interest payday loans

Medical debt reduces GDP by 0.5% annually

28% of debt leads to utility shutoffs

Average time to pay off $2,000 medical debt: 24 months

Medical debt costs states $20 billion in welfare support

18% of car repossessions linked to medical debt

Debt holders 3x more likely to forgo car maintenance

Interpretation

Economic And Financial Burden Interpretation

The Economic and Financial Burden of medical debt is stark, from a $220 billion total in U.S. collections in 2022 to severe impacts like a 15% credit score drop for affected Black households and $17,000 a year in out of pocket costs for families with debt.

03 · Category

Health And Behavioral Impacts30 stats

25% of adults with chronic illness die with $10,000+ medical debt

Medical debt linked to 20% higher suicide risk

42% skip medications due to cost/debt fear

Debt holders 50% more likely to report poor mental health

30% delay preventive care like mammograms

Medical debt increases mortality by 8% for heart patients

35% of diabetics ration insulin due to debt

Debt stress linked to 15% higher hypertension rates

28% avoid ER visits needed due to bills

Cancer survivors with debt 2x more likely to relapse untreated

40% report anxiety/depression from debt

Medical debt delays surgery by 25% for elective procedures

22% of pregnant women skip prenatal care due to debt

Debt holders exercise 30% less due to stress

18% higher hospitalization rates from untreated conditions

Medical debt linked to 12% increase in opioid misuse

33% of mental health patients drop therapy due to cost

Debt reduces sleep quality for 45% of holders

26% avoid dental care leading to ED visits

Medical debt increases stroke risk by 10%

29% of asthmatics ration inhalers

Debt stress correlates with 20% higher obesity rates

24% delay vaccinations due to cost fears

Medical debt linked to 15% reduced life expectancy in poor

31% of arthritis patients skip PT sessions

Debt holders 40% more likely to smoke

27% avoid eye exams leading to vision loss

Medical debt triples emergency readmissions

23% of HIV patients miss doses due to debt

Debt linked to 17% higher dementia risk in elderly

Statistics · Healthcare MedicineMedical Billing Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Policy Responses And Trends30 stats

No Surprises Act reduced surprise bills by 70% in 2022

15 states ban reporting medical debt under $500 on credit

Biden admin removed $7 billion in medical debt via targeted relief

Medicaid expansion cut medical debt by 20% in expansion states

CFPB rule bans medical debt from credit reports starting 2023

100 hospitals forgave $1 billion debt under nonprofit rules

ACA marketplaces reduced debt by 15% for enrollees

California AB 1833 forgave $3 billion state medical debt

Medical Debt Relief Act proposed to cap OOP at 10% income

NYC RIP Medical Debt program bought $400 million debt for $50k

20 states expanded charity care requirements for hospitals

FICO score changes excluded paid medical debt in 2022

Medicare drug price negotiation cut costs 25% for 10 drugs

Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin at $35/month

50% drop in medical debt lawsuits post-state protections

Utah hospital price transparency reduced bills 10%

Federal $650 million for state debt relief programs

VantageScore excludes all medical debt from scoring

10 states passed medical debt bankruptcy protections

Hospital price transparency rule compliance up 80% in 2023

Colorado forgave $50 million debt for low-income patients

ACA preventive services no-cost sharing cut debt 12%

FTC banned fake reviews impacting medical billing

30% decline in surprise billing after No Surprises Act

Pennsylvania charity care expanded to forgive 100% up to 400% FPL

Medical debt on credit reports dropped 35% post-2022 changes

Illinois RIP program erased $200 million debt

Medicare Advantage audits recovered $4 billion overpayments

25 states limit medical debt collection interest rates

Biden's budget proposes $40 billion for debt relief

Interpretation

Policy Responses And Trends Interpretation

Across policy responses, medical debt outcomes are improving, with the No Surprises Act cutting surprise bills by 70% in 2022 and Medicaid expansion reducing medical debt by 20% in expansion states, while broader credit reporting changes are also tightening, including a CFPB rule that bans medical debt from credit reports starting 2023.

05 · Category

Prevalence And Distribution30 stats

In 2022, 41% of U.S. adults (approximately 100 million people) owe medical debt

14 million adults under age 65 have medical debt over $1,000, representing 6% of that population

3 million adults have medical debt exceeding $10,000

17% of adults (about 45 million) have medical debt on their credit reports

In 2021, 28% of U.S. adults skipped needed care due to medical debt fears

66% of medical debt collections on credit reports are under $1,000

Over 530,000 families file for bankruptcy annually due to medical debt

1 in 5 Americans (20%) report medical bill problems in the past year

Medical debt affects 1 in 12 adults aged 18-64 with debt over $250

35 million adults have unpaid medical bills averaging $2,200

23% of non-elderly adults have medical debt

In rural areas, 25% of adults have medical debt vs. 20% urban

78% of medical debt is held by insured individuals

Average medical debt per household is $12,000 for those in collections

60% of adults with medical debt report it as a major problem

Medical debt appears on 15% of credit reports nationally

1 in 4 Black Americans has medical debt over $500

46 million Americans have family medical debt

10% of U.S. adults have medical debt in collections exceeding $250

In 2023, medical debt totaled $195 billion on credit reports

30% of adults aged 18-25 have some medical debt

Medical debt collections fell 20% after 2022 credit reporting changes

1 in 15 adults has medical debt over $5,000

55% of medical debt is from hospital bills

12% of Medicare beneficiaries have medical debt

Urban medical debt rates are 22% vs. 18% suburban

40% of medical debt holders have multiple bills outstanding

In Texas, 1 in 4 adults has medical debt

National average medical debt per person in collections is $1,500

25% of U.S. households have medical debt problems

Interpretation

Prevalence And Distribution Interpretation

For the prevalence and distribution of medical debt, in 2022 41% of U.S. adults, about 100 million people, owe medical debt and 17% have it on their credit reports, showing how widespread balances are while most of the reported collections, 66%, are under $1,000.

report visual · Comparison

Medical debt prevalence—who is most affected

Medical debt rates are substantially higher for several groups, including lower-income adults and uninsured people.

Low-income households (<$25,000/year) have 35% medical debt prevalence35%

Black Americans are twice as likely to have medical debt as white Americans (28% vs. 14%)

28%

Women are 10% more likely than men to have medical debt (24% vs. 14%)

10%

Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA

David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Medical Debt Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/medical-debt-statistics

MLA

David Sutherland. "Medical Debt Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/medical-debt-statistics.

Chicago

David Sutherland. 2026. "Medical Debt Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/medical-debt-statistics.

Sources & references

72 sources cited across this report

Medical Debt Statistics

Key Takeaways

Related reading

Demographic Breakdown24 stats

Demographic Breakdown Interpretation

Economic And Financial Burden30 stats

Economic And Financial Burden Interpretation

Health And Behavioral Impacts30 stats

More related reading

Policy Responses And Trends30 stats

Policy Responses And Trends Interpretation

Prevalence And Distribution30 stats

Prevalence And Distribution Interpretation

Medical debt prevalence—who is most affected

Cite This Report

Sources & references