Health · Healthcare & Policy · 6 hrs ago
Medical debt relief grows, but US patients still owe billions
In the United States, millions of people owe medical debt after receiving care they cannot afford.
In 2024, people owed at least $220 billion in medical bills, and many had insurance but still faced high out-of-pocket costs.
Nonprofits and governments are helping by forgiving debts or reducing bills, while some states have also restricted how medical debt can be reported.
Undue Medical Debt says it has erased $53.3 billion in medical debt, about half of that this year, as it expanded its partnerships and processing capacity.
People may qualify for its relief if their income is no more than four times the federal poverty level or their medical debt is at least 5% of their annual income.
But debt forgiveness is only a stopgap; experts say lasting change requires making healthcare more affordable.
Health plans are frequently withholding payments for emergency care, according to a report on insurers’ response to a law aimed at ending surprise medical bills.
The law has generated millions of dollars in high-dollar payouts for doctors.
The article says health plans are now fighting back by withholding money.
The sources do not state which plans are involved, how many bills are affected or how much money is being withheld.
- Who
- Health plans are withholding payments; doctors have received payouts under the law.
- What
- Health plans are frequently withholding money for emergency care despite a law aimed at ending surprise medical bills.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- The United States. The article does not specify a location.
- Why
- The article describes the withholding as health plans fighting back, but does not give their reasons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Law
- A law aimed at ending surprise medical bills
- Payouts
- Millions of dollars in high-dollar payments to doctors
- Payments withheld
- Health plans are frequently withholding money for emergency care