There is often a lot of analysis that is conducted when building campaigns and collection strategies. One area that maybe should get more attention is the address at which an individual lives, especially when attempting to collect on medical debt. The disparity between rural and urban communities is stark when looking at healthcare issues and medical debt, according to a newly released study.
Nearly one-fourth of Americans living in rural areas are likely struggling with medical bills, according to the report, which compared rural America with other countries. The 22.8% of rural Americans struggling with medical bills is more than double the amount in any other country, and more than triple the amount in some countries, like Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada.
About 15% of Americans — 46 million, in total — live in rural areas, according to the report. Individuals living in rural communities have higher rates of chronic diseases, suicides, and lower rates of access to care. The affordability of healthcare is often cited as a driver of those trends.
More than one-third of Americans living in rural communities skipped needed medical care because of the costs, compared with 24% in Australia, 14% in Canada, and 6% in the United Kingdom.
As with just about everything, location matters. Knowing the area where a consumer lives may tell you a lot about how collectible that debt is, and the financial and health situations of the individual from whom you are trying to collect. Healthcare affordability will continue to be a problem for individuals across the country, but especially for those living in rural areas.
