When people go through tough financial times, their credit score is often one of the first things to take a hit. Missed payments, job loss, medical bills—life happens. But according to health experts and consumer rights advocates, your credit score should never decide whether you can get health insurance.

They argue that health care is a basic need. Everyone gets sick, everyone needs checkups, and everyone deserves access to doctors—no matter what their financial history looks like.

Your Credit Score Has Nothing to Do With Your Health

Credit scores were created to show how a person handles loans or bills.
But they don’t tell anything about your actual health.
They don’t show if you exercise, if you’re at risk for diseases, or if you’re likely to visit a doctor often.

Experts say using credit to judge someone’s health insurance eligibility is not just unfair—it makes no sense medically.

People With Financial Stress Often Need More Care, Not Less

When someone is struggling with credit or debt, they’re usually under huge stress.
Stress alone can lead to heart issues, anxiety, sleep problems, and many other medical conditions.

If insurers used credit scores to raise prices or deny insurance, it would punish the very people who need healthcare the most. And that goes completely against the purpose of health insurance.

Many Places Already Protect Consumers

In several regions, laws already prevent insurance companies from looking at your credit score when deciding your health insurance costs.
The idea is simple: everyone deserves equal access to health care.

These rules help make sure that financial difficulties don’t become a barrier to getting the treatment you need.

Health Insurance Should Focus on Health—Nothing Else

Insurance companies usually look at things like age, medical history, and lifestyle choices.
Experts say that’s reasonable because those factors actually relate to health risks.
But credit history? It tells nothing about a person’s body, health habits, or medical needs.

That’s why specialists strongly believe credit scores should stay out of the picture.

A Fairer System Helps Everyone

When people know they won’t be judged for their past financial mistakes, they’re more likely to visit doctors regularly, take preventive steps, and manage their health better.

Making healthcare accessible—no matter a person’s credit score—creates a healthier population overall.

Conclusion

might affect your ability to buy a car or get a loan, but it should never affect your right to receive healthcare.
Experts are clear: health insurance should be based on health, not financial history.

At the end of the day, everyone deserves the chance to take care of themselves—no matter what their credit report says.