Medical debt remains one of the most significant financial burdens facing American households, and a new analysis suggests that the problem is especially pronounced among Republican voters. According to a report from the policy organization Third Way, Republican voters collectively carry an estimated $70 billion in medical debt compared with roughly $65 billion for Democratic voters. The report also found that Republican voters tend to carry higher balances per person, a trend that reflects broader demographic and economic factors that shape both health care costs and voter behavior.
The analysis examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation along with exit polling from the 2024 presidential election to compare medical debt levels with voting patterns.
Key findings of the report include:
- Republican voters with medical debt average about $11,300 in unpaid medical bills.
- Democratic voters with medical debt average about $9,500.
Researchers say demographic trends help explain the difference. Several groups that reported higher medical debt levels also supported President Donald Trump in greater numbers during the 2024 election.
Those groups include:
- Men
- Adults age 45 and older
- Individuals without college degrees
- Rural residents
- Households earning less than $100,000 annually
For example, the report found that men carry an average of $6,566 more medical debt than women, and exit polling showed Trump received 55% of the male vote compared with 43% for Kamala Harris.
Although Republican voters carry larger average balances, the share of voters reporting medical debt was slightly higher among Democrats. About 9.2% of Harris voters reported medical debt, compared with 8% of Trump voters.
Despite differences in debt levels, the report suggests that voters across the political spectrum support policies aimed at reducing medical debt.
Among Republicans surveyed:
- Six in ten support keeping medical debt off credit reports.
- Eight in ten support limits on aggressive collection actions, including wage garnishment and home foreclosures.
- Six in ten support state laws designed to protect consumers from medical debt.
Support for these policies was even higher among Democrats and Independent voters.
