Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care

Olivia Bennett
3 Min Read
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Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care

Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care
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Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care
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Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care

Medical debt is associated with deferred care, most commonly deferred dental care, according to a study published online March 10 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Kyle J. Moon, from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and colleagues examined whether medical, mental health, or dental needs are differentially sensitive to medical debt among U.S. adult participants in the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. Self-reported medical financial hardship (“medical debt”) and probability of deferred care in the past year were examined for adults with versus without medical debt.

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The researchers found that the overall prevalence of past-year medical debt was 10.7% and was high across all insurance categories: 19.5, 12.6, 9.3, and 8.1% among uninsured adults, and those with Medicaid, commercial insurance, and Medicare, respectively. Medical debt was associated with a 24.6, 17.6, and 9.3 percentage point increase in the probability of deferred dental care, medical care, and mental health care, respectively. The associations were mainly consistent by health insurance category; compared with adults covered by commercial insurance, uninsured adults had a significantly higher association between medical debt and deferred medical care (32.5 versus 16.9 percentage points).

“Policies that address affordability and the cascading toll of medical debt are critical to mitigating the health and economic impact of deferred care,” Moon said in a statement.

Publication details

Kyle J. Moon et al, Medical Debt and Deferred Care for Physical Health, Mental Health, and Dental Needs Among U.S. Adults, Journal of General Internal Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s11606-026-10215-x

Journal information:
Journal of General Internal Medicine

Key medical concepts

Medical DebtMental Health ServicesNational Health Interview Survey

Clinical categories

DentistryFamily medicine

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Medical debt linked to deferred care, especially dental care (2026, March 13)
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Olivia Bennett (she/her) is a health education specialist and medical writer dedicated to providing clear, evidence-based health information. She holds a strong academic background in public health and clinical sciences, with advanced training from respected institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom.   Bennett earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Michigan. She later completed her Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she developed a deep interest in preventive care and patient education.   To further strengthen her expertise in global and community health, she obtained a Master of Science in Global Health and Development from the University College London. She also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Nutrition at the King's College London.   Since completing her studies, Bennett has worked in both clinical and health communication roles, contributing to medical blogs, health platforms, and public awareness campaigns. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into practical guidance that everyday readers can understand and apply.   In 2021, she began specializing in digital health education, helping online health platforms maintain medically accurate, reader-friendly content. Her key areas of focus include: Preventive healthcare Women’s health Mental health awareness Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension) Nutrition and lifestyle medicine   Bennett believes that trustworthy health information should be accessible to everyone. Her goal is to empower readers to make informed decisions about their well-being through clear, compassionate, and research-backed guidance.   Outside of her professional work, she enjoys reading medical journals, participating in community wellness initiatives, and mentoring aspiring health writers.
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