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Many people are just one medical emergency away from a financial crisis. 

A hundred million Americans live with medical debt

, or about 41 percent of adults, according to a survey by Kaiser Family Foundation. 

To pay off medical bills, many people have taken on other debt, including credit cards, personal bank loans, or loans from family and friends. Medical debt creates stress and prevents people from renting homes and buying cars. It makes people less likely to seek the medical care they need. It contributes to bankruptcy. 

The number of Minnesotans with medical debt is low compared to other parts of the country, mostly due to state health insurance programs for people with low incomes. 

 of Minnesota households have medical debt in collections compared to a national average of 13 percent. But that rate is double in communities of color. 

MPR News host Angela Davis spoke about tackling medical debt with a financial counselor, an elder law attorney and the leader of a national nonprofit organization that relieves medical debt. 

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Many people are one medical emergency away from a financial crisis. Almost two out of every five American adults are living with some form of debt related to cost of health care. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the toll of medical debt and what can be done about it with a financial counselor, an elder law attorney and the header of a national nonprofit organization that raises donations to forgive medical debt.

MPR News with Angela Davis -  Two out of every five American adults are living with some form of debt related to the cost of health care and many people are one medical emergency away from financial crisis. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the toll of medical debt and what can be done about it with a financial counselor, an elder law attorney and the header of a national nonprofit organization that raises donations to forgive medical debt. 

Tackling medical debt

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