Inside Look Series: Medical Debt and Unmet Health Care Needs

DATE: April 29, 2021

CHIA today released its final installment in a new series of research notes, An Inside Look: Affordability Findings from the Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (MHIS). This series provides a detailed analysis of health care affordability issues that Massachusetts residents face despite high rates of health insurance coverage in the Commonwealth.

This final installment includes two notes: The Burden of Medical Debt is a Struggle for Some and Unmet Health Care Needs Due to Cost are Still Common among the Insured.

Key Findings: 

• One in four insured residents reported forgoing health care that they felt was needed due to cost.
   
• Over half (52%) of insured residents with an unmet need due to cost reported that the care was not covered by their health plan.
   
• Nearly one in 10 insured residents with family medical debt owed $8,000 or more.
   
• 81% of insured residents with family medical debt attributed the debt to deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance paid under their health plan.

Findings for the Inside Looks series come from the Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey. The MHIS is a biennial population-based survey that provides information on health insurance coverage, health care access and use, and perceived health care affordability in Massachusetts.

For additional information on the Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey, please visit:
https://www.chiamass.gov/massachusetts-health-insurance-survey/