AHRQ: 1 in 6 Americans use more than 10% of family income to pay for medical expenses

Roughly 1 of every 6 Americans age 18 to 64 reported using more than 10 percent of their total family income to pay for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses in 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

According to the data from the federal agency, this included:

o People who pay for their own health coverage (47 percent) and those who have employer-sponsored insurance (16 percent) or public insurance, such as Medicaid (also 16 percent).

o The poor (30 percent), the middle income (19 percent), and the high income (7 percent).

o Unemployed adults (29 percent) and 13 percent of working adults

o Rural residents (21 percent) and 15 percent of people living in metropolitan areas.

o Adults with disabilities who have complex or basic activity limitations (35 percent and 32 percent) and 15 percent of those with no activity limitations.