Income volatility and health care decisionmaking

Affording medical treatment has been a growing problem facing millions of American families. Rising household income volatility adds another layer of complexity in understanding how people prioritize different types of medical care when money is tight. New research by Mina Addo and Lisa Servon at the University of Pennsylvania provides a fresh take on health care decisionmaking for households experiencing income volatility.

In their report, “Income Volatility and Healthcare Decision-Making,” Mina Addo and Lisa Servon address the role technology, specifically financial technology, can play in helping Americans facing the twin challenges of managing their health and their wallet. Download the paper here.

On Thursday, May 6, Addo and Servon presented their key findings and recommendations. Kavita Patel, former director of policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement in the White House and nonresident fellow at the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, responded to the paper. NPR’s Stacey Vanek Smith moderated a conversation following the report presentation.

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