Almost one out four American adults, or 31 million people, were underinsured in 
2014, a study found. deductibles or out--pocket costs made medical unaffordable for many, and left others burdened by debt.
Data drawn from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Survey found that half (51%) underinsured adults reported problems with medical bills, and more than two five (44%) reported they avoided getting needed medical because .
More than a third (38%) either had trouble paying or couldn’t pay their medical bills and a similar portion (34%) had medical debt they were paying off over . More than one-fifth (23%) had been contacted by a collection agency about unpaid medical bills, and a comparable number (22%) said they had to change their way life in order to pay their medical bills.
Other financial problems included 44% who received a lower rating, 47% who used all their savings, 34% who took card debt, 9% who took out a mortgage their home, and 7% who declared bankruptcy.
The share working-age adults who had for all 2014 but were underinsured was 22%, almost double the 12% reported in 2005.
Underinsured people also said they skipped needed , with 44% they did not go to the doctor when they were sick, did not fill a , skipped a medical test, or failed to see a specialist when their doctor told them to do so.
Although people buying their own are more likely to be underinsured than those with (37% vs. 20%), the share people with who are underinsured has doubled since 2003, when it was 10%. The report found underinsured rates are higher among those working in firms, with 27% underinsured compared to 14% in firms with 100 or more workers.
The authors the study said they could not separately assess the effects the Act underinsurance because many the people throughout 2014 had that began prior to major expansion the law’s effect.