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November 2005
 Home Sick: How Medical Debt Undermines Housing Security
The researchers conducted surveys of people visiting Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) sites in Atlanta, Georgia; Des Moines, Iowa;
Bridgeport, Connecticut; Phoenix, Arizona; Providence, Rhode Island; St.
Louis, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and West Palm Beach, Florida. The 2005
VITA program offered free tax help to people whose 2004 incomes were
$36,000 or less. Between January and April 2005, 1,692 people visiting
VITA completed a survey; a control sample of 444 people was gathered
through door-to-door canvassing. A total of 2,136 surveys were completed.
The results indicated that about 21% of the United States population under the age of 65 has medical
bills or medical debt being paid off over time. About 25% of those with
medical debt owe more than $4,000. About 62% of those with medical debt
had health insurance at the time they incurred the debt.
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