Medical Debt and Deferred Care for Physical Health, Mental Health, and Dental Needs Among U.S. Adults

Medical debt was consistently associated with deferred care, with dental care most commonly deferred, followed by medical care and then mental healthcare. This association remained mostly consistent across all types of health insurance. Policy interventions that aim to address financial barriers to care and the accompanying burden of medical debt may mitigate the health and economic consequences of delayed and forgone care.