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More Americans are using credit cards, as well as home equity and savings accounts, to cover rising health care costs, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that supports health care research. Thirty percent of respondents said they took on additional credit card debt to pay for medical bills. An estimated 72 million Americans between the ages of 19 and 64, or 41% of all Americans, reported having trouble paying for medical care in 2007, with some falling far enough behind to face collection agencies. That number compares with nearly 58 million, or 34%, in 2005, the survey found. The report comes as U.S. consumers juggle rising energy costs, food bills and mortgage payments. The foundation analyzed responses from 3,456 U.S. residents from a biennial telephone survey with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2%. In 2007, roughly half of those facing medical debt had up to $2,000 in bills, while 21% had up to $3,999. Twelve percent reported more than $4,000 in medical debt, and another 12% faced more than $8,000. Thirty-nine percent said they had exhausted their savings, while 29% said they had either gone without such necessities as food or heat or had run up credit card debt. While those without health insurance were most likely to carry substantial medical debt, those who had some coverage also reported difficulties, the survey found.
