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Medical debt in US associated with worse physical and mental health, premature death: Study

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/medical-debt-us-worse-physical-mental-health-premature/story?id=107808336

Medical debt across the U.S. is associated with worse physical and mental health, and even premature death.

Medical debt in US associated with worse physical and mental health, premature death: Study

As health care costs continue to rise nationwide, affording medical care remains a significant and enduring challenge for millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care spending reached $4.5 trillion in 2022 – roughly $13,5000 per person. Of that, out-of-pocket spending accounted for $471.4 billion.

11 comments

Hyperreality

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I always find it interesting how being stressed or unhappy because of something like high medical debt is framed as a mental health issue, rather than as a normal reaction to living in a sick hyper-capitalist society.

But hey, I suppose medicating the symptoms is more profitable than tackling the causes.

FlyingSquid

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To be fair, things like high medical debt can make stress and unhappiness in a person who already has mental illness worse. Sometimes far worse to the point that there's a breakdown.

kumatomic

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With the guarantee of high cost you also have a lot of doctors who don't care about the patient, only their insurance card. Not saying all, but lots. At least in my 14 years of chronic illness.

800XL

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Everyone should just stop paying medical debt. I have and after 7 years of ignoring it, the debt went away. Fuck Ascension and corporate urgent cares

SlopppyEngineer

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People stopped having children, what is long term even worse for them. Less children = population shrink = permanently shrinking economy = capitalism collapse.