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Medical debt is common in Oregon and across the country, making life harder for those already dealing with the stress of health concerns. In our Fall 2024 Consumer Survey, Oregon Consumer Justice worked with the research nonprofit Oregon Values and Beliefs Center (OVBC) to better understand this issue and what can be done to lessen the toll of medical debt.
Why this matters
Of the nearly one in three Oregonians who incurred medical debt within the last two years, 85% of respondents say it significantly impacts their lives. The effects of medical debt range from increased stress to the delay of needed medical care and the devastation of patients' financial security.
The most prominent source of medical debt is hospitals, followed by specialty care, urgent care, and primary care visits.
Oregonians who incurred medical debt in the last two years.
Oregonians report the many overlapping ways medical debt affects their day-to-day lives.
The details
Unfortunately, these issues extend far beyond Oregon's borders. It’s estimated that 15 million Americans have over $49 billion in medical debt that’s gone to collections.
No one wants or plans to take on medical debt.
On the whole, medical debt is a poor predictor of a person's ability to pay future bills. It does not reflect a person’s financial responsibility, and it's common for charges to be inaccurate due to delayed or mismanaged claims. The three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—voluntarily removed some medical debt from credit reports, and VantageScore decreased the role medical bills play on a consumer’s score.
I lost my house, my job, basically everything I've ever worked for.
What to watch
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a rule in January 2025 to officially exclude medical debt from Americans' credit reports. The effects of this ruling remain uncertain, however, given an industry lawsuit to block the ban.
During the 2025 legislative session, Oregon Consumer Justice is partnering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to champion a bill that would remove medical debt, including debt incurred through medical credit cards, from credit reports across our state. This bill would also prevent medical debt from being used in tenant or employment screening, giving Oregonians with medical debt a fighting chance to get back on their feet.
See insights about the state of consumer issues in Oregon and deep-dive looks at utilities and insurance.
Reach out to our Communications + Community Engagement team to learn more about opportunities to share your story, or explore our other resources on debt.
