Past Due: How medical debt is harming Americans and the solutions we need now
Abstract: Medical debt impacts tens of millions of Americans, contributing to financial harm and worse health. This report provides an overview of research on prevalence, impact, and drivers of medical debt, finishing with policy recommendations to address both the downstream problem of medical debt and the systemic issues behind the problem. Suggested citation: Past Due: How Medical Debt is Harming Americans and the Solutions We Need Now. Medical debt working group. Needham, MA: The Lown Institute, 2025.
