Financial Condition and Health Care Burdens of People in Deep Poverty

Americans living at the bottom of the income distribution often struggle to meet their basic needs on very limited incomes, even with the added assistance of government programs. The analyses in the brief describe the characteristics of the poor population; available income for those at the deepest levels of poverty; and average medical care needs among those living in poor and deep poor families (meaning those with incomes below 50 percent of the poverty threshold). The brief concludes with implications for medical cost sharing among those with few resources available.