VIEW VIEWPOINT

Medical Debt

Written by Kerby Anderson August 19 - 2026

Already two Democratic Senate candidates (in Texas and Michigan) are promoting the idea of having the government cancel medical debt. If this campaign promise gains any attention, expect other candidates to also propose the same government promise.

The problem of medical debt is a major problem for Americans. Over 100,000 Americans carry a total of $220 billion in medical debt. Until a few days ago, I was one of those people. I may not have been in that total since I payed off my debt to the hospital, just over a two-month period.

Some of the people with medical debt have significant obligations. About 14 million adults owe more than $1,000 with 3 million with debt over $10,000. This level of debt also affects their credit scores.

Although medical debt is a problem, these proposals ignore the reason for them in the first place. As we often explain on my radio program, patients are disconnected from medical costs. I suggest that if my guests and I decided to go out to dinner, their menu decisions would be influenced by whether I was paying for the dinner, or each person was paying for the meal. If someone else is paying for dinner, you pay less attention to price.

Another problem is the sad fact that many government policies limit or even eliminate competition in the medical marketplace. Some government rules even grant insurance companies wider latitude to overcharge patients.

This is a case where the government makes medical expenses higher, so the solution from these senatorial candidates is to deal with the symptom rather than the problem. If cancelling medical debt becomes a fashionable campaign promise, perhaps we should ask the candidates to address the problem, not the symptom.

Listen to this Viewpoint

Viewpoints

View All
1789618406 6aab68e61cb17
September 22, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Our Neighbors?

One of my frequent lines is: He who defines the terms often wins the debate. Progressives refer to people who support abortion as “pro-choice.” Who isn’t in favor of choice? They may define people who...

Listen
1789515580 6aa9d73c22942
September 21, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Lazy Savings

Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Union. She was in the news the other day for saying that savings were “lazy.” That may have been an unfortunate translation, since I think it woul...

Listen
1789700768 6aacaaa0c1f83
September 18, 2026
Penna Dexter

Explaining NEET

A young conservative Anglican, who goes by the pseudonym Crier in the Wilderness, has an essay at Virtue Online that attempts to explain a category of young men who are not in a good place. They are N...

Listen

Take Action

View All
Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras
August 9, 2026

Protect Privacy Against Flock Cameras

Flock cameras are everywhere. While one camera is a tool, the more than 100,000 AI-powered cameras now posted around our nation are a new layer of dig...

Support the SAVE Act
July 20, 2026

Support the SAVE Act

SAVE Election Integrity with Voter ID.

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act
April 15, 2026

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act

The abortion pill harms women and kills unborn children. Congress must act.

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025
January 12, 2026

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025

Pro-lifers have been abused under the FACE Act for long enough.