Thirty-one million people in the United States were underinsured in 2014, according to a new Commonwealth Fund survey. The proportion of underinsured Americans—those who have health insurance but who have high deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses relative to their income—was statistically unchanged since 2010, after nearly doubling between 2003 and 2010.
The consequences of being underinsured are significant. For example, half of survey respondents falling within this group had problems paying their medical bills or were paying off medical debt over time. Many Americans with health insurance through their jobs are underinsured, as employers are sharing more of their health care costs with workers.