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Coverage denials are delaying care, driving medical debt for privately insured

A photo of an empty hospital bed.
Photo: Tyler Russell/Connecticut Public/Getty Images

Authors of a new survey say their findings underscore the growing role that insurance practices play in shaping Americans’ access to care and financial stability.

A national survey from the Commonwealth Fund finds that millions of Americans with private health insurance experienced coverage denials last year, often resulting in delayed treatment, worsening health, and unexpected medical bills.

The findings come from the Fund’s 2025 Affordability Survey, released on June 4, 2026, which examined how

According to the