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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020

50% in U.S. Fear Bankruptcy Due to Major Health Event

Author:     Dan Witters
Source:     The Gallup Organization
Publication Date:     SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
 Link: 50% in U.S. Fear Bankruptcy Due to Major Health Event
Stephan:   If you live in another country than the U.S., as I have learned from travelling widely, the American healthcare system, actually an illness profit system, is incomprehensible. How is it possible I have been asked over and over, that the people of America don't see that it is in everyone's best interest -- except corporations -- to have universal birthright healthcare? Is it stupidity, or ignorance people will say. How can you tolerate bankrupting your family if someone gets sick? Good questions all and ones to which I do not have good answers. Do you?
  • Half in U.S. now, vs. 45% in 2019, concerned about health-related bankruptcy
  • 15%, including 20% of non-White adults, carry long-term medical debt
  • Lowering drug prices a key voting issue for 35% of adults

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Half of all U.S. adults are concerned that a major health event in their household could lead to bankruptcy, an increase from 45% measured in early 2019 (PDF download). These results, based on a new study by West Health and Gallup, also show that the percentage of non-White adults who harbor this concern has risen from 52% to 64%.Fear of Health Event Leading to BankruptcyHow concerned are you that a major health event in your household could lead to bankruptcy? Extremely concerned, concerned, not very concerned or not at all concerned?

January-February 2019July 2020Change% Extremely concerned/
Concerned% Extremely concerned/
Concernedpct. pts.U.S. total4550+5*GenderWomen4751+4Men4249+7*RaceWhite adults4143+2Non-White adults5264+12*Age18-294355+12*30-494655+9*50-645248-465+3840+2* Statistically significant change (p<.05), design effect includedGALLUP-WEST HEALTH U.S. HEALTHCARE STUDY, JULY 2020

This study is based on 1,007 interviews with U.S. adults conducted from July 1-24, 2020. Over the past year, concerns about medical bankruptcy have increased 12 and […]

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