Rising health care costs force Americans to skip care and face debt

Rising health care costs, insurance premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses are forcing Americans to delay medical treatment, drop insurance coverage, and accumulate heavy debt, the Business Journal reported. Unaffordable coverage options leave many individuals vulnerable to sudden, devastating medical bills when unexpected health crises occur. [1]

In one instance reported by the Business Journal, Bill McAdams, a 45-year-old travel nurse from Holiday, Florida, went uninsured because his agency plan cost $3,600 monthly for him and his wife. After he suffered a stroke, the hospital sent him a $93,000 bill. Meanwhile, Janet Marx, 56, of Milford, Connecticut, had to double up on coverage through Medicare and her husband's employer due to lupus. [1]

Health insurance costs serve as a major factor governing access to medical care across the United States. Escalating insurance costs lead more consumers to forgo coverage entirely or accept policies with higher deductibles and limitations that require individuals to pay a larger share of their care. [5]

Medical expenses remain a persistent concern for millions of families across the nation. As FTMQ Health reported earlier, more than 100 million Americans carry medical debt, prompting widespread public interest in systemic health care reforms. [7]