The numbers
During 2020–2021, 11.3% of U.S. adults were in families that had problems paying medical bills in the previous 12 months.
| Group | Share with problems paying medical bills |
|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Asian | 5.7% (lowest) |
| Non-Hispanic White | 10.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.5% |
| Non-Hispanic Black or African American | 16.8% (highest) |
| All adults | 11.3% |
Among the Asian subgroups shown, adults of Chinese origin (2.8%) were less likely than those of Filipino origin (6.2%) to have family problems paying medical bills. Other differences weren't statistically significant.
Adults in families with problems paying medical bills, with 95% confidence intervals. Figure from the CDC report.
How it was measured
The National Health Interview Survey interviews a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population at home; these figures combine 2020 and 2021. Adults were counted if they answered yes to: in the past 12 months, did you or anyone in your family have problems paying, or were unable to pay, any medical bills — including bills for doctors, dentists, hospitals, therapists, medication, equipment, nursing home or home care? The Asian total includes subgroups not shown separately, and the overall total includes other race groups.
Sources
Based on Michael E. Martinez, Amy E. Cha and Emily P. Terlizzi, "QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Who Were in Families Having Problems Paying Medical Bills During the Previous 12 Months, by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Selected Asian Subgroups — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020−2021," MMWR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Health Interview Survey; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The figure's description on the source gives a different time period from the survey question and text, which this page follows.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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