Association of Chronic Disease Burden and Adverse Credit Reports

Chronic disease can result in substantial financial hardship due to out-of-pocket medical costs and reduced or lost ability to earn income. To determine the relation between chronic disease burden and adverse credit report outcomes, researchers analyzed insurance claims data from 2019 and 2020 and linked commercial credit data for 2.9 million adults who were enrolled in a Michigan preferred provider organization.

Thirteen chronic medical conditions were considered, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, psychiatric, and neoplastic disorders. About 40% of enrollees had one or more chronic conditions. Regarding adverse credit report outcomes, 10% had medical debt in collections, 8% had nonmedical debt in collections, 16% had deli…