Recently, medical bloggers like NHS Doctor have referenced Himmelstein’s classic study which claims 54.5% of all bankruptcies filed in 2001 were medically related. However, as happens all to often, people fail to critically analyze published articles that support a particular preconceived viewpoint. Researchers David Dranove and Michael Millenson have published an excellent analysis of Himmelstein’s data to outline the disappointingly poor quality of this study and its conclusions.
Abstract:
David Himmelstein and colleagues recently contended that medical problems contribute to 54.5 percent of personal bankruptcies and threaten the solvency of solidly middle-class Americans. They propose comprehensive national health insurance as a solution. A reexamination of their data suggests that medical bills are a contributing factor in just 17 percent of personal bankruptcies and that those affected tend to have incomes closer to poverty level than to middle class. Moreover, for national health insurance to have an impact, it would have to define “medical” expenses in a much broader way than is now typical of either private or government-funded plans.
