1 in 7 say they have trouble with health bills

New CDC data find that 1 in 7 people in 2018 reported trouble with paying medical bills, a figure that represents a dip since 2011. Here’s more: 

• Overall trends: In 2011, nearly 20% of people reported having trouble with medical bills in the year prior to being surveyed, but that dropped to 14% of respondents in 2018. 
• Demographics: Females, Black individuals, and those aged 17 and under were most likely to be in families who had trouble paying bills. 
• Insurance status: Those under the age of 65 who were uninsured had the most difficulty with health bills. Those aged 65-74 were most likely to report trouble paying bills if they had both Medicare and Medicaid. Among the oldest adults — ages 75 and older — having Medicare only was associated with medical billing problems.