In the past forty years, medical costs have doubled, insurance copays and deductibles have spiked, and bankruptcy rates have quadrupled, creating an avalanche of destructive medical debt. More than 60% of bankruptcies in America have medical debt as a root cause. The effects of high healthcare costs are especially dire in Indiana and throughout the US. Nearly 50% of U.S. adults delayed or skipped medical care due to the high cost, 50% of U.S. adults wouldn’t be able to afford an unexpected $500 bill, and 66% of bankruptcies cite medical debt as a leading cause.

Medical debt has been the leading cause of American bankruptcy for years. CNBC report revealed that unpaid medical bills would affect the finances of two million people in one year. Even of those who do not file for bankruptcy, an estimated 56 million adults will suffer in some way because of medical expenses, which accounts for more than 20% of the American population between the ages of 19 and 64.

Unfortunately, the financial strain of medical attention in the United States has led many Americans to find ways to avoid medical treatment. Whether it is skipping the doctor and hoping the issue resolves itself or deciding to live with the problem, people are taking desperate measures to avoid plunging into bankruptcy because of their medical bills.

One of the desperate measures is not taking prescription medications. Even for people with insurance, the deductibles on medications can be extremely high, especially if you are taking a less common drug. Manufacturing processes change continuously, and the co-payment for a medication you have been taking for years could suddenly rise exponentially.