15% Of Non-Elderly Adults Have Past-Due Medical Debt

Nationwide, about 15.4% of non-elderly adults in the U.S live in families that reported past-due medical debt. About 65.1% of these adults had incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

Of the population with past-due medical debt, 72.9% reported owing at least some of their past-due medical debt to hospitals: 27.9% owed to hospitals only, and 45.1% owed both a hospital and a doctor's or dentist's office. Most (60.9%) adults with past-due hospital bills reported that a collection agency contacted them about the debt . . .