Table 4.
Factors Associated with Having Been Referred to a Collection Agency for a Medical Debt
| Yes | No | P Value | MLR OR(95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristic | ||||
| Age, y | ||||
| 17–44 | 39.7 | 60.3 | 1.0 | |
| 45–84 | 39.1 | 60.9 | .92 | 0.9 (0.4 to 2.0) |
| Race, % | ||||
| African American | 38.2 | 61.8 | 1.0 | |
| White | 51.3 | 48.7 | .13 | 1.5 (0.5 to 4.6) |
| Gender, % | ||||
| Male | 37.8 | 62.2 | 1.0 | |
| Female | 41.7 | 58.3 | .52 | 1.3 (0.5 to 3.1) |
| Education, % | ||||
| <12th grade | 25.3 | 74.7 | 0.2 (0.1 to 0.6) | |
| ≥12th grade | 46.8 | 53.2 | <.01 | 1.0 |
| Income, % | ||||
| Below federal poverty level | 37.1 | 62.9 | 1.0 | |
| Above federal poverty level | 42.7 | 57.3 | .40 | 2.9 (1.2 to 7.3) |
| Insurance status, % | ||||
| Yes | 28.8 | 71.2 | 1.0 | |
| No | 49.3 | 50.7 | <.01 | 2.4 (1.0 to 5.9) |
| Source for usual care, % | ||||
| Emergency room | 45.5 | 54.5 | 1.0 | |
| Community/outpatient clinic | 39.8 | 60.2 | .43 | 2.5 (0.5 to 14.0) |
| With dependent children, % | ||||
| No | 37.1 | 62.9 | 1.0 | |
| Yes | 45.7 | 54.3 | .22 | 2.5 (0.9 to 6.6) |
| Housing status, % | ||||
| Homeless | 40.6 | 59.4 | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.7) | |
| Housed | 38.7 | 61.3 | .75 | 1.0 |
| Chronic medical condition, % | ||||
| No | 33.3 | 66.7 | 1.0 | |
| Yes | 41.2 | 58.8 | .27 | 4.5 (1.5 to 13.8) |
| Chronic mental health condition, % | ||||
| No | 34.7 | 65.3 | 1.0 | |
| Yes | 45.2 | 54.8 | .09 | 1.3 (0.5 to 3.4) |
| History of substance abuse, % | ||||
| No | 34.9 | 65.1 | 1.0 | |
| Yes | 42.3 | 57.8 | .24 | 2.2 (0.7 to 7.0) |
| Current social service needs, % | ||||
| No | 25.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | |
| Yes | 43.7 | 56.3 | .01 | 3.4 (1.1 to 10.5) |
| Site of interview, % | ||||
| Clinical | 43.4 | 56.6 | 2.3 (0.6 to 8.4) | |
| Nonclinical | 30.5 | 69.5 | .05 | 1.0 |
OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.