WASHINGTON —听Too many Americans are in bad financial shape听because of听mounting medical bills.听听 But after听a听decade on the rise, the percentage of adults听in financial distress due to health care costs is starting to decline.
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, a health research group, says its latest nationwide survey shows the crisis is easing, though听medical expenses听still remain a burden for far too many.
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The fund has been听conducting large-scale telephone surveys of听health care consumers since 2001, collecting data every two years. 听Last year, for the first time听since the survey began,听participants reported fewer problems paying medical bills or dealing with health care debt.听
The percentage in financial distress declined from a high of 41 percent in 2012 to 35 percent in 2014.听听听 At the same time, the survey found that fewer adults delayed care because of the cost.
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Study authors say it’s no coincidence that the improvement came as the number of uninsured Americans declined due to the Affordable Care Act.
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All the same,听 more than a third of all Americans are still struggling to pay for medical care.听听 The Federal Government’s Consumer Protection bureau says it鈥檚 concerned about the impact on consumers, currently have overdue medical debt on their credit reports.
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