How Medical Debt Makes People Sicker — and What We Can Do About It

The Dose

Nearly one in five Americans has medical debt. Black households are disproportionately affected, carrying higher amounts of debt at higher rates.

Berneta Haynes, senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center, describes Black Americans’ medical debt burden as a continual cycle fed by higher rates of chronic illness and lower rates of wealth. As a result, many are left without savings or family resources to tap into when faced with an unexpected medical bill.

Join host Joel Bervell on the newest episode of The Dose podcast, where he talks to Haynes about the history of medical debt and efforts to ease pressure on the families and communities hit hardest, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s initiative to change what kinds of medical debt can show up on a person’s credit report.

This episode kicks off a new series of conversations about affordability, including everything from the role of private equity in health care to why Americans pay more for care than any other high-income country.