Poll: Two-thirds of NC families say health care costs too high

Written by Michelle Crouch

Co-published with charlotte leisure

As North Carolina prepares to roll out a program aimed at easing the burden of medical debt. new research Survey results from four universities reveal that many North Carolina families are feeling the strain of rising health care costs.

A survey of 601 adults in the state found that nearly two-thirds (61%) find it somewhat or very difficult to pay for medical expenses, and about one in five say they have difficulty paying their medical bills. It’s very difficult.”

The study also found:

• Nearly three in four North Carolinians are worried about whether they will be able to afford unexpected medical bills, with 36% saying they are “very concerned.”
• Almost one in three respondents (32%) said they had to pay medical bills on a credit card because they couldn’t afford to pay them in full.

These financial concerns can have real-world consequences, with families either not seeking needed medical care or delaying seeking care due to cost. This choice can lead to more serious health problems as small problems grow into larger problems.

David Laser, a professor of political science and computer science at Northeastern University who led the study, said the high level of financial anxiety found in the survey related to health care costs was “alarming.”

“Despite the economy doing very well by many indicators, most people are vulnerable to unexpected bills, and health care is probably the biggest source of unexpected bills,” he said. It highlights that.”

He added that the same survey found that the three issues that North Carolinians consider most important in today’s election are the economy, inflation and health care.

The university survey also asked about errors on medical bills.

About 43% of respondents said they had received a medical or dental bill that they believed contained an error.

According to the survey, about 9 in 10 people said they objected to the bill, 50% with their health care provider and 44% with their insurance company. More than three-quarters (78%) said they were able to resolve the issue in their favor.

North Carolina’s health care costs and medical debt rates are among the highest in the nation. 2024 Analysis by Forbes Advisor ranked North Carolina as the most expensive state for health care; Urban Research Institute Analysis One in five North Carolina residents has medical debt in collections, a rate that has been shown to be one of the highest in the country.

The state’s new medical debt relief program will allow hospitals to forgive medical debt dating back to 2014 for low- and moderate-income patients in exchange for billions of dollars in federal funds and strengthen charity care policies. is required.

The poll was conducted from August 30th to October. by 8 Citizen health and facilities projecta joint project between Northeastern University, Harvard University, Rutgers University, and the University of Rochester. It has a margin of error of +/- 5 percentage points. This work was supported in part by the Knight Election Hub, a national effort to support election coverage funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.