Medical debt

Medical debt is when someone owes money to a hospital or doctor because they received medical care but did not pay for it.

Imagine if you have a tummy ache and go to the doctor to get help. The doctor checks you and says you need medicine and some special tests, and the hospital gives you all of this to make you feel better. But after you feel better, the hospital sends you a bill that says you have to pay them a lot of money for the help they gave to make you feel better. This amount of money is called medical debt.

Sometimes, people can't afford to pay their medical bills because medical care can be expensive. This can cause a lot of stress and worry.

Thankfully, there are some ways people can get help with medical debt, such as asking the hospital for a payment plan, reaching out to charities or government programs, or speaking to a financial advisor.