title: Tough trade-offs: medical bills, family finances and access to care.
abstract: About 20 million American families-representing 43 million people-reported problems paying medical bills in 2003, according to a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). While uninsured families are more likely to have medical bill problems, two-thirds of families with problems paying medical bills have health insurance coverage. Of all families with medical bill problems, almost two-thirds reported difficulty paying for other basic necessities-rent, mortgage payments, transportation or food-as a result of medical debt. People in families with medical bill problems also reported much greater trouble getting care because of cost concerns-one in three did not get a prescription drug, one in four delayed care and one in eight went without needed care.
authors.forename: Jessica H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D016361:Bankruptcy; D005190:Family; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States