{"id":25661,"date":"2026-02-16T06:22:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=25661"},"modified":"2026-02-16T06:22:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:22:14","slug":"medical-injuries-followed-by-debt-and-bankruptcy-even-for-the-insured","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=25661","title":{"rendered":"Medical injuries followed by debt and bankruptcy even for the insured"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sturti | E+ | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Even Americans who are covered by health insurance can emerge from medical emergencies with long-lasting financial scars.<\/p>\n

In a study published this month in the journal Health Affairs<\/a>, researchers found that 18 months after being hospitalized for a traumatic injury \u2014 such as a car accident or fall \u2014 the share of patients with medical debt in collections rose 5.2 percentage points, or a 24% relative increase, compared with before that medical emergency. Over that same period post-injury, the average balance in collections rose by $290, and 1 in 10 indebted patients owed more than $4,480. <\/p>\n

Bankruptcy filings also increased by 3.2 per 1,000 patients \u2014 a 6% relative rise \u2014 about 15 months after injury, the researchers found.<\/p>\n

“This work grew out of my clinical experience as a trauma surgeon and seeing acutely injured\u00a0patients shouting at us\u00a0to stop care because they’re worried about the bill,” said co-author Dr. John Scott, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington. <\/p>\n

The researchers studied nearly 13,000 trauma patients’ credit reports from one year before to 18 months after they were hospitalized for an injury. Credit report data spanned 2018-2021. Nearly all the patients in the cohort \u2014 or 98% \u2014 had health insurance coverage.<\/p>\n

“Insurance reduces the risk of financial catastrophe, but the way private plans are currently designed still leaves many people heavily exposed when something serious happens,” Scott said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Read more CNBC personal finance coverage<\/h2>\n
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