Missourians are reportedly struggling with access to health care and rising medical debt

The Missouri Foundation for Health has released two important reports highlighting the challenges Missourians face in accessing affordable health care. The first report, “Speak Up MO,” describes residents’ personal experiences with the health care system, while the second, “Medical Debt in Missouri,” focuses on possible policy solutions to address these issues.

Key findings from the reports highlight inequalities in access to healthcare and the financial burden of rising healthcare costs. One in five Missourians reported not having health insurance at some point in the past year, a troubling statistic given the rising cost of medical care. Samantha Bunk, health policy strategist at the Missouri Foundation for Health, emphasized the far-reaching impact of high health care costs on individuals and families.

“Of course, if you can’t afford your health care, that can affect whether you can afford your housing, your basic needs, groceries, paying your bills, etc. – and when we talk about medical debt, what was “In that “It can always have an impact in other ways in other reports,” explained Bunk.

The financial impact is clear: 22% of Missourians report difficulty securing an auto loan, and one in five face challenges applying for housing, such as an apartment or mortgage. The Foundation’s goal is to overcome these barriers by implementing evidence-based policies and working closely with local communities.

According to the reports, while two-thirds of respondents found accessing physical health care “very” or “somewhat easy,” there were significant differences between different demographic groups. Women, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities reported greater difficulty getting the care they need. Bunk noted that rural populations face the greatest obstacles, with limited health facilities and the need to travel longer distances contributing to the problem.

“There are obviously fewer healthcare facilities, one issue is traveling longer distances – and when it comes to medical debt, we’ve also reported higher rates of medical debt in our surveys,” Bunk added.

Moving forward, the foundation plans to release its next report on economic well-being and personal finance, followed by a study on civic engagement later this fall.

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