Report
Understanding Medical Debt: Research and State Solutions
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Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) - Georgetown UniversityMarch 30, 2026 Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) - Georgetown University National scopeWhy this matters
The Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University studies this problem and helps create solutions. They help lawmakers, advocates, and health leaders understand what works. Their research shows that rising deductibles and gaps in coverage mean even insured people can owe thousands for care.
Overview
Medical debt affects 100 million Americans, including people with health insurance. The Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University studies this problem and helps create solutions. They research how medical bills hurt families, especially people of color and those with low incomes. Medical debt can drain savings and even cause families to lose their homes. The center maps state policies that protect patients from medical debt. They help lawmakers, advocates, and health leaders understand what works. Their research shows that rising deductibles and gaps in coverage mean even insured people can owe thousands for care. They publish reports about state protections like financial assistance programs, payment plans, and limits on medical debt lawsuits. The center also tracks federal policy changes that could make medical debt worse. Their work includes interactive maps showing which states have the best patient protections. They provide tools and research to help states create better policies that shield patients from the harmful effects of medical debt.
, both uninsured and insured patients face the growing threat of medical debt. Rising deductibles, gaps in coverage, and high out-of-pocket costs mean that even those with insurance can end up owing thousands for essential care. Medical debt, or personal debt from unpaid medical bills, affects an estimated 100 million people , disrupting lives , draining savings, and even costing families their homes.
\n\nWhat We Do\n\nAt CHIR, we examine the full landscape of policies that can both prevent and mitigate the negative downstream impacts of medical debt. S. \n\n Interactive Map \n\nBlog posts\n\nJanuary 2026 – As Federal Protections Stall, States Move to the Front Lines to Alleviate Medical Debt \n\nSeptember 2025 – How States Can Help Curb the Rising Medical Debt Related to Federal Coverage Cuts \n\nAugust 2024 – State action update in 2024 \n\nJan 2024 – State policy options for making financial assistance more accessible\n\nOther publications\n\nJuly 2023 – The Biden Administration Takes Aim At Medical Financing Products \n\nAugust 2024 – Biden Administration Proposes Rule To Ban Medical Debt From Credit Reporting \n\nSeptember 2024 – Making Financial Assistance Programs Equitable and Accessible \n\nWhat's New\n\nBlog Posts\n\n As Federal Protections Stall, States Move to the Front Lines to Alleviate Medical Debt \n\n 2026-03-06 by CHIR Faculty \n\n Federal policy changes are expected to exacerbate medical debt among insured patients.
In a new piec... \n\n Medical Debt \n\n cost-sharing , financial assistance , medical bills , medical debt \n\n How States Can Help Curb the Rising Medical Debt Related to Federal Coverage Cuts \n\n 2025-09-26 by CHIR Faculty \n\n The budget reconciliation bill, combined with expiring enhanced premium tax credits and other recent... \n\n Affordable Care Act and Marketplaces , Health Insurance Coverage , Medical Debt \n\n budget reconciliation , medical debt , premium tax credits \n\n Making Financial Assistance Programs Equitable and Accessible \n\n 2024-12-02 by Maanasa Kona \n\n In a recently published JAMA article, CHIR's Maanasa Kona discusses the steps states can take to imp...
\n\n Medical Debt \n\n Implementing the Affordable Care Act \n\n States Continue to Enact Protections for Patients with Medical Debt \n\n 2024-09-23 by CHIR Faculty \n\n Earlier this summer, the Biden administration announced updated guidance on medical debt. In a new b... \n\n Medical Debt \n\n Implementing the Affordable Care Act \n\nNews\n\n A car accident sent her to the hospital — and $64,000 into debt \n\n October 29, 2025 \n\n Corporatization of Health Care , Costs and Competition , Medical Debt \n\n Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ To Leave 10 Million Without Health Coverage Over Decade: Here’s What Report Says \n\n August 12, 2025 \n\n Affordable Care Act and Marketplaces , Health Insurance Coverage , Medical Debt \n\n Millions will lose Medicaid under Trump’s tax law.
Here’s the final tally. \n\n August 11, 2025 \n\n Affordable Care Act and Marketplaces , Health Insurance Coverage , Medical Debt \n\nPublications\n\n As Federal Protections Stall, States Move to the Front Lines to Alleviate Medical Debt \n\n January 22, 2026 \n\n This piece examines state medical debt protections, including financial assistance, bill payment plans, credit reporting restrictions, and lawsuit limits, as millions of Americans face rising medical bills and weakening federal support due to ACA premium credit expirations and reduced Medicaid and marketplace funding in 2026.
\n\n Medical Debt \n\n How States Can Help Curb the Rising Medical Debt Related to Federal Coverage Cuts \n\n September 10, 2025 \n\n In a piece for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR researchers highlight how recent federal policy changes are expected to increase coverage losses, underinsurance, and medical debt, raising concerns for state policymakers about how to protect patients from unaffordable medical bills while supporting financially strained health care providers. S.
in 2025 \n\n July 16, 2025 \n\n In a report for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR researchers examine federal and state medical debt protections and find that vague federal standards and widely varying state policies leave many patients at continued risk of medical debt. \n\n Medical Debt \n\n States Continue to Enact Protections for Patients with Medical Debt \n\n August 8, 2024 \n\n In a piece for the Commonwealth Fund, CHIR researchers highlight recent federal guidance and state actions to curb medical debt, while noting that most states have yet to adopt policies that prevent debt from accruing in the first place.
com/story/money/2025/08/11/millions-will-lose-medicaid-trump-tax-law/85514650007/","anchor_text":"Millions will lose Medicaid under Trump’s tax law. S.
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