Conclusion
The researchers say policy-makers should explore ways to protect those most vulnerable to high costs relative to their income. The research follows an earlier Urban Institute analysis showing progress on affordability since the Affordable Care Act’s implementation—with the percentage of nonelderly adults having problems paying medical bills sharply declining.
About the Urban Institute
The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.