"Two-thirds of Californians said they worry about affording unexpected health care bills, while 48% worried about paying their rent or mortgage, and 47% worried about affording food, according to the Oakland-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. It is shocking, actually, said Kristof Stremikis, director of market analysis and insight at the foundation, given the high costs of housing and groceries in the state."
"The last time anxiety about surprise medical bills topped the survey was in 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. The foundation and nonpartisan pollsters at the University of Chicago conduct the survey each year. In 2023 and 2024, it found that Californians were most concerned about paying for gasoline and other transportation costs."
"She was diagnosed with cervical cancer about 20 years ago and underwent surgery that left her cancer-free. She was relieved she didn't have to undergo chemotherapy afterward. But the potentially life-saving procedure came at a steep price: DaRosa said she's on the hook for at least $70,000 in debt, something she and her husband struggled to afford while paying the mortgage on their mobile home."
A California Health Care Foundation survey reveals that unexpected medical bills are the top financial concern for Californians in 2025, with 66% expressing worry about affording surprise health care costs. This surpasses concerns about rent or mortgage payments (48%) and food affordability (47%), despite California's notoriously high housing and grocery prices. This marks the first time since 2022 that medical bill anxiety has topped the survey, as 2023 and 2024 saw greater concern about transportation and gas costs. The annual survey, conducted with University of Chicago pollsters, reflects shifting economic anxieties among state residents. Individual cases like Lorraine DaRosa's illustrate the burden, with her cervical cancer treatment leaving her with $70,000 in medical debt despite having employer-based insurance.
#medical-debt #healthcare-affordability #california-consumer-anxiety #health-insurance #economic-concerns
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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