Medical debt has become a growing crisis for the middle class. Take Sheila from Salt Lake City as an example. As a single mom, she tried managing her kidney stones at home. This decision only led to infection and hospitalization. Now, she faces a mountain of medical debt, unsure of how to afford essential needs like food for her children.
Understanding why the middle class is so burdened by medical debt is vital. Recent studies show that families earning between $50,000 and $99,000 are hit hardest. They often find themselves ineligible for financial aid, leaving them to navigate these expenses alone. Shockingly, about 30% of middle-class families carry medical debt.
The problem spans all demographics. Middle-class individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or education, struggle with this debt. This includes Black and Hispanic families who report higher rates of medical debt. These families suffer despite having insurance, which ostensibly should protect them.
What’s more, the medical debt crisis has intensified since 2020. While the Affordable Care Act initially helped reduce medical debt, its benefits are waning. High deductibles and coverage gaps now leave many families vulnerable. Deductibles have more than doubled in the past decade, and one-third of workers face deductibles over $2,000. This reality forces families into difficult decisions about their healthcare.
Middle-class families deserve better protection from medical debt. We focus on navigating these complex processes to help individuals in similar predicaments. Our efforts aim to help you deal with medical debt through comprehensive efforts to ensure medical insurance companies pay the bills they are responsible for paying while negotiating with hospitals and doctors to lower excessive bills.
