RIVERWOODS, Ill.—Fifty-three percent of U.S. consumers say the pandemic has caused them to take on new medical debt, according to a new survey from Discover Personal Loans.
What's even more disturbing is that among those with medical debt, 23% say they've been forced to only make their minimum credit card payments rather than pay off those balances in full, The Ascent stated in its analysis.
The Ascent noted the trend could impact consumers’ overall credit scores. As CUToday.info has reported, consumers’ credit scores have improved during the pandemic, as many have paid down debt and tabled some credit usage in favor of debit.