Medical Bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: Results of a National Study

This study found that 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were the result of medical expenses.  The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Law and Medical Schools, and Ohio University, found that over 75 percent of the bankrupt families had health insurance but were still unable to pay their medical debts 

Himmelstein, D. U., Thorne, D., Warren, E., & Woolhandler, S. (2009). Medical bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: results of a national study. American Journal of Medicine, 122(8), 741-746. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.04.012 http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2809%2900404-5/abstract 

Authors: David U. Himmelstein, Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren, Steffie Woolhandler.

Download the full article from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/american_journal_of_medicine_09.pdf