US Medical Debt Set to Rise as AI Expands Billing and Collections for 17 Million Uninsured
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 12
US Medical Debt Set to Rise as AI Expands Billing and Collections for 17 Million Uninsured
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 12
Summary
$1 trillion in Republican health cuts and expiring Obamacare subsidies are expected to leave about 17 million more people uninsured by 2034, driving a new rise in US medical debt.
More than 1 in 4 US adults already reported medical debt in 2025, including roughly the same share of insured people, as higher deductibles, copays and coverage losses push more costs onto patients.
$278 billion in uncompensated care projected by 2034 is likely to push hospitals toward AI tools that code visits, send billing messages, predict patients' willingness to pay and tailor settlement discounts.
AI-backed firms such as Cedar are pitching chatbots, payment-plan outreach and machine-learning models to improve collections, especially from uninsured and Medicaid-eligible patients with large balances.
$1 billion in extra annual healthcare costs was tied to AI coding in a September Blue Cross report, underscoring broader concern that AI is also being used to boost billing and, by insurers, delay or deny care.