Medical Debt Increases Risk of Forgoing Mental Health Care
Recent research highlights a troubling link between medical debt and healthcare accessibility, particularly concerning mental health services. In 2023, over 14% of adults reported carrying medical debt, and within this group, nearly one-third lacked necessary mental health care in the following year due to cost concerns. A study published in the June 2025 issue of JAMA Health Forum examined the relationship between medical debt and the likelihood of skipping mental health treatment. The study involved 1,821 adults surveyed between 2023 and 2024, revealing that those with previous-year medical debt were significantly more likely to forgo mental health services, with a rate of 33.8%, compared to just 6.3% among those without debt. Overall, any level of medical debt increased the chances of unmet mental health needs by approximately 17 percentage points. The authors emphasized that medical debt acts as an 'iatrogenic' barrier, forcing patients into the difficult dilemma of paying large out-of-pocket costs, accumulating debt, or avoiding essential care. While efforts are underway to address medical debt through policy measures, there is an urgent need to understand how these interventions can reduce financial burdens and improve access to mental health care for vulnerable populations.
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