Overview
- Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the cohort followed 12,645 adults from 2018 to 2022 using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.
- Over the period, 17.4% experienced a cost burden and 9.9% faced a catastrophic burden at least once.
- The share encountering unaffordable care rose from about 12% after one year to 26.7% by year four.
- Lower income, lack of insurance, hospitalizations, chronic conditions, and older age were linked to higher risk.
- More than half of participants who died during the study period had recent financial strain, and authors noted limits such as excluding insurance premiums and nursing home residents, with some calling for national health insurance.