Medical debt is associated with deferred dental care regardless of insurance coverage, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
Researchers used data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey to develop the study, which was published March 10 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Authors clarified several limitations in the study, including the use of self-reported measures from survey participants.
According to the study, 42.3% of people with medical debt delayed dental care compared with 17.7% of those without medical debt. Twenty-three percent of people with medical debt delayed medical care, while 14% of people with medical debt delayed mental healthcare. Researchers also found that the share of deferred care for dental services was comparable among those who are insured and uninsured.
The study suggests dental care is most sensitive to medical debt due to dental care not always being covered by insurance, or plans that do cover dental care having limited coverage.
The study supports previous research linking financial barriers to poorer health, higher mortality rates and the increased utilization of high-cost resources, according to a March 11 news release. However, previous studies have not examined the types of care most often deferred by people experiencing medical debt.
Study authors noted that cuts to insurance coverage under the new federal budget and other policy changes could exacerbate medical debt and deferred care.
