Out-of-Pocket Costs Now Make Up Nearly Half of Large Hospital Balances, New Cedar and Health Management Academy Report Finds
Original data show patients' share of large, slow-to-resolve balances rose from 37.5% to 49.3% in one year; case studies of five health systems show how they are responding The report describes a growing underinsured population: insured patients whose incomes exceed traditional financial assistance thresholds but who cannot absorb thousands of dollars in healthcare costs. According to KFF, deductibles have risen 43% over the past decade, and 62% of insured adults worry about affording care before their coverage takes effect. "This research underscores a critical issue for health system leaders: patients are bearing an increasing share of their healthcare costs. Underinsured individuals are particularly vulnerable to financial hardship, which our current infrastructure is not built to absorb," said Coltin Ball, Associate Director at THMA and lead researcher on the report. THMA…