Poll: Two out of three N.C. families say it’s difficult to afford health care
By Michelle Crouch
Co-published with The Charlotte Ledger
As North Carolina prepares to roll out a program aimed at easing the burden of medical debt, a new survey from four universities reveals that many N.C. families are feeling the strain of rising health care costs.
The survey of 601 adults from across the state shows that nearly two-thirds (61 percent) find it somewhat or very difficult to afford health care costs, with about 1 in 5 describing it as “very difficult.”
The survey also found:
- Almost three out of four North Carolinians are worried about being able to afford a surprise medical bill, with 36 percent saying they were “very concerned.”
- Nearly one in three respondents (32 percent) said they have had to put health care costs on a credit card because they couldn’t afford to pay the bill outright.
Those financial worries can have real-world impacts, prompting families to skip or delay seeking health care they need because of the cost — a choice that can lead to more serious health issues as little problems grow into larger ones.
David Lazer, a political science and computer sciences professor at Northeastern University who directed the survey, said the high level of financial insecurity revealed by the survey related to health care costs was “stunning.”
“It highlights that although the economy, by many metrics, is doing very, very well, most people are vulnerable to unexpected bills, and health care is probably the biggest single source of unexpected bills,” he said.
He added that the same survey found that the economy, inflation and health care are the three issues North Carolinians consider most important in today’s election.
The universities’ survey also asked about errors on medical bills.
About 43 percent of respondents said they have received a medical or dental bill they thought contained an error.
Of those, about 9 out of 10 said they disputed the bill, according to the survey — 50 percent disputed it with a medical provider, and 44 percent disputed it with an insurance company. More than three-quarters (78 percent) said they were able to resolve the issue in their favor.
North Carolina’s health care costs and rates of medical debt are some of the highest in the nation. A 2024 analysis from Forbes Advisor ranked North Carolina as the state with the most expensive health care, while an Urban Institute analysis shows that one in five North Carolina residents has medical debt in collections — one of the country’s highest rates.
The state’s new medical debt relief program requires hospitals to forgive medical debt dating back to 2014 for low- and middle-income patients and to beef up their charity care policies — in return for billions of dollars in federal money.
The poll was conducted Aug. 30-Oct. 8 by the Civic Health and Institutions Project, a joint project of Northeastern University, Harvard University, Rutgers University and the University of Rochester. It has a margin of error of +/- 5 percentage points. It was supported in part by the Knight Election Hub, a national effort to support election coverage funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Health care a big issue for you this election day? Our Health Care Voter Guide covers NC’s statewide and Congressional races. We asked all the candidates questions about health care topics important to you. Find information on the issues that matter to you there.
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