Lack of insurance, high medical costs put more in a bind

Americans are struggling to pay medical bills and are accumulating medical debt at an increasing rate, according to a survey released by the Commonwealth Fund. The survey found two-thirds of the working-age population was uninsured, underinsured, reported a medical bill problem, or did not get needed healthcare because of cost in 2007. In addition, more than two in five adults in the 19-to-64 age group reported problems paying medical bills or had accumulated medical debt in 2007, up from one in three in 2005. Their difficulties included not being able to afford medical attention when needed, running up medical debts, or having to change their lifestyle to repay medical debts.