Most Americans put health problems wrecking their finances high on the list of things they fret about.

It’s with good cause. A new national survey shows that more than 31 million Americans borrowed $74 billion — yes, that’s with a “b” —  last year to cover health care costs.

And what’s worse: Most of them had health insurance.

The findings came from a West Health-Gallup survey taken in November 2024 of nearly 3,600 adults in the United States ages 18 and older.

Who is crunched hardest by all this debt? First, it’s those under age 50, and families with children. Women from 50 to 64 years old were twice as likely as men to borrow to pay for health care.

Black and Hispanic adults borrowed at higher rates than white adults.

Roughly 62% of Black adults, Hispanic adults and women said they lose sleep over health care costs.

Even those many of us might consider well off aren’t immune. Of households surveyed who earn more than $180,000 a year, 40% said they worry. Of households making $120,000, 60% shared similar concerns.

What’s not to worry about when it comes to health care costs? We all seem to know at least someone who’s had a medical episode that left them struggling financially. Medical debt can hurt credit scores, limit our housing options and job prospects.

Of those who had to borrow money to cover health care, 14% borrowed more than $5,000, while 41% borrowed more than $1,000. The rest needed $500 or less.

Among the survey’s many startling findings, this may be the most telling: Of everyone questioned, only 14% could say they had absolutely no worries about health care costs or medical debt.

They are the lucky ones, indeed.