Medical Bills Weigh Down Workers

Stressed Out: Anxiety about medical bills has a growing number of U.S. workers in its grip. Nearly 30 percent acknowledge “a serious problem” paying for health insurance because of the rise of unfavorable economic conditions, according to a poll by Kaiser Family Foundation. The problem cuts across social classes and income brackets, even prompting about 7 percent of the population into marriage as a means of obtaining health coverage. About 42 percent either are delaying or avoiding medical treatment because of the costs they’ll incur, including refusing to have prescriptions filled or follow recommended courses of treatment. About 20 percent say they are having difficulty paying non-medical bills, and an equal number have been contacted by collection agencies, while 17 percent have nearly exhausted their savings. About 12 percent aren’t able to pay for basic necessities, with 3 percent declaring personal bankruptcy.