- 1 in 5 Americans receive problematic medical bills, but only 62% contact billing offices
- Most who reach out receive financial relief or bill corrections
- Demographic disparities exist in who seeks help, potentially widening healthcare inequalities
A new study from the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center, published in JAMA Health Forum, reveals that disputing medical bills can provide significant financial relief for patients, yet many households remain hesitant to do so.
By the numbers:
- 20% of survey respondents received a medical bill they disagreed with or couldn’t afford
- 61.5% of those with problematic bills contacted a billing office
- 74% of those reporting billing errors saw mistakes corrected
- 76% of those unable to afford their bill received some form of financial relief
- 62% of those attempting to negotiate saw their bill reduced
Who’s less likely to seek help? The study shows disparities in self-advocacy:
- People without a college degree were less likely to reach out.
- Those with lower financial literacy and the uninsured were also less inclined to dispute bills.
What they’re saying: “Current healthcare billing practices generally require patients to practice a lot of self-advocacy, and those who cannot self-advocate well are missing opportunities for financial relief,” said Erin Trish, a co-author of the study and the co-director of the USC Schaeffer Center.
The bottom line: This research suggests that more transparency and assistance from healthcare providers could reduce medical debt inequalities. For now, the onus remains on patients to advocate for themselves, often missing out on opportunities for relief.
