Health Equity

Americans’ Medical Debts Are Bigger Than Was Known, Totaling $140 Billion

Abstract: A new study finds that health care has become the country’s largest source of debt in collections. Those debts are largest where Medicaid wasn’t expanded.

Publication: The New York Times

Date Published: July 20, 2021

Author(s): Sarah Kliff and Margot Sanger-Katz

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This analysis of California’s state budget from 2007 to 2018 finds that to ensure the long-term health of the state, California needs to eliminate health care waste and direct the savings toward increased funding for programs that improve community conditions—like public education, public health, housing assistance, food assistance, and income support.