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Trauma Patients Face Rising Medical Debt and Bankruptcies

2/12/2026

34 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Health Affairs reports a study of nearly 13,000 trauma patients' credit reports from 2018–2021, showing that 18 months after hospitalization for traumatic injuries, medical debt in collections rose by 5.2 percentage points (a 24% increase) among insured Americans.
The study found the average debt balance rose by $290, and 10% of patients owed more than $4,480.
Bankruptcy filings rose by 3.2 per 1,000 patients, a 6% increase.

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Story summary

Health Affairs reports a study of nearly 13,000 trauma patients' credit reports from 2018–2021, showing that 18 months after hospitalization for traumatic injuries, medical debt in collections rose by 5.2 percentage points (a 24% increase) among insured Americans.
The study found the average debt balance rose by $290, and 10% of patients owed more than $4,480.
Bankruptcy filings rose by 3.2 per 1,000 patients, a 6% increase.