Online crowdfunding for medical expenses can seem like an easy way to solve a tricky problem. A family needs money to offset expenses caused by a serious illness or injury, a public plea is made and ¾ thanks to the kindness of strangers ¾ the money comes rolling in.

If only it were that easy.

A pair of University of Washington researchers who made the first large-scale assessment of medical crowdfunding in the United States said that people in states with higher medical debt and lower rates of insurance coverage are more likely to try crowdfunding ¾ and sadly, are less likely to succeed.

In fact, the study found, fundraising campaigns begun in wealthier communities where residents have better insurance coverage raised far more money.

The researchers studied state and county census data with outcomes from more than 437,000 GoFundMe campaigns from 2016 through 2020.

More than $2 billion was raised, and the median campaign pulled in just under $2,000.

Roughly 16% of all campaigns raised no money, and less than 12% met their goal.

In Mississippi, a state whose population has the highest percentage of medical debt and the highest percentage of uninsured, crowdfunding campaigns raised the least of all 50 states.

Vermont, middle of the road in terms of individual medical debt but whose residents are far better insured, raised the most.

The researchers offered policy recommendations, including a suggestion that crowdfunding data be more transparent so that the phenomenon’s effects can be better understood.

Until then, they said, the so-called “ad hoc safety net” will likely continue to be riddled with giant holes, unable to catch those who need it most.