Ability to pay is the most important factor that determines whether people have access to needed health and medical services in the United States market-based health care system. Most must rely on health insurance to cover those costs. Those individuals and family not able to afford private-pay insurance or receive government-based plans have difficulty accessing and paying for needed health and medical care, resulting in medical debt.

Medical debt can lead to significant financial hardships for individuals and families. Hardships can include depleting savings, taking out loans, reducing resources for necessities, and the negative impacts on credit scores and stress due to aggressive debt collection practices.

2023-2024 CHA Findings

• 11.5% of the Guilford County population had no form of health insurance (American Community Survey, 2022).
• Hispanic and Black residents of Guilford County are more likely to be uninsured than White residents. Persons with less than a high school education are much more likely to be uninsured than are college graduates (American Community Survey, 2022).
• In 2023, 7% of Guilford County households had medical debt in collections, compared with 5% nationally. 

For more information, see Chapter 5 of the 2023-2024 Guilford County Community Health Assessment.