A new poll from the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt finds that support for protecting patients from medical debt is growing from all sides of politics.
Nationwide, 14 million people have more than $23 billion in medical debt.
Approximately 1.5 million people in Florida report having medical debt each year. This burden is even more acute for Florida’s oldest residents, as 14% of Florida’s seniors have unpaid medical debt.
Some poll results show that 94% support limiting interest rates on medical debt. 90% support limiting the ability of collection agencies to remove individuals’ homes, belongings, and cars due to medical debt, and 89% support requiring all hospitals to use the same easy-to-use application for financial assistance.
When it comes to the cost of health insurance, 70% believe they can’t afford it. Nearly half of respondents (45%) struggle to pay common medical expenses, and more than a third (35%) of voters have medical debt.
Seventy-six percent said they wanted their state to pass a law to protect them from medical debt, and 89% of respondents said they wanted their state legislature to pass a law that would help people understand who is suing them for medical debt.
Voter views on health care:
When asked who would protect their best interests, 85% of voters said health care providers, followed by hospitals at 78%.
An overwhelming majority of voters (84%) agree that insurance should protect people from medical debt.
Voters believe insurance companies are most responsible for medical debt (63%), followed by pharmaceutical companies (12%).
Polling numbers show Republicans are doing a better job on spending and handling the economy, but when it comes to health care, a recent survey found that about 40% of American adults say Democrats are doing a better job handling health care, compared to 25% who say they trust Republicans.
