Report Finds COVID-19 Did Not Impact Medical Debt

Medical Debt Collection

A study from JAMA Health Forum found the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying financial challenges were not associated with any changes in medical debt.

Researchers analyzed trends in medical debt between January 2018 and September 2021 among 37 million people and used credit reports from the credit reporting agency TransUnion.

Between the first and second quarters of 2020, medical debt in collections declined, according to the study. The last two quarters of the year, when COVID-19 infection rates peaked, saw a minor increase in medical debt; however, the first and second quarters of 2021 saw a decline.

The results suggest that any increases in medical debt were offset by fewer elective medical procedures and new health care policies implemented during the pandemic.

Read the full article here.

Previous Post
First Wave of Medical Debt Credit Reporting Changes Underway
Next Post

About

Founded in 1893, Frost-Arnett is a debt collection agency that resolves the patient-pay balance of accounts receivable for healthcare providers.

Contact

PO Box 198988
Nashville, TN 37219
1 (855) 287-7043

Hours

Mon-Thur: 8am – 7pm
Fri: 8am – 5pm CST

Menu