Research
Research library
The burden of medical debt in the United States (opens in a new tab)
Analyzes how many US adults carry medical debt and how it varies by health and income.
Medical debt burden in the United States (opens in a new tab)
Reports medical debt is the most common debt on credit reports and describes billing and collection errors.
Claims denials and appeals in ACA Marketplace plans in 2024 (opens in a new tab)
Finds that in-network claim denials are common while consumers rarely appeal.
Some Medicare Advantage organization denials of prior authorization requests raise concerns (opens in a new tab)
Found that some denied prior authorization requests met Medicare coverage rules.
KFF Survey of Consumer Experiences with Health Insurance (opens in a new tab)
Describes how insured adults experience denials, network problems and difficulty understanding coverage.
Health literacy (opens in a new tab)
Federal research and tools on health literacy, including universal-precautions toolkits.
History and principles of patient navigation (opens in a new tab)
Describes the origins of patient navigation in Harlem and its goal of removing barriers to timely care.
Patient advocates and healthcare navigation occupations (opens in a new tab)
Official employment outlook for an occupation group that includes some advocacy roles.
Sources checked November 7, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the official source before acting.