HEALTH CARE
The percentage of people under age 65 in families having problems paying medical bills decreased from 21 .7 percent in the first six months of 2011 to 20.3 percent in the first six months of 201 2, according to a report from the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics.
The report, "Problems Paying Medical Bills: Early Release of Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January 2011 -June 2012," also found that within each six month period from January 2011 through June 2012, children aged 0-17 years were more likely than adults aged 18-64 years to be in families having problems paying medical bills. Medical bills are defined as bills for doctors, dentists, hospitals, therapists, medication, equipment, nursing home or home care.
However, the percentage having problems paying medical bills decreased for both age groups. Among children aged 0-17 years, the percentage of those who were in families having problems paying medical bills decreased from 23.7 percent in the first six months of 201 1 to 21 .8 percent in the first six months of 2012. Among adults aged 18-64 years, the percentage in families having problems paying medical bills decreased from 20.9 percent in the first six months of 2011 to 19.7 percent in the first six months of 2012.