Rising medical costs and high levels of credit card debt have been consistent themes in the news over the last few years. As people in Florida continue to weather the economic recession, they are resorting to credit cards pay their bills, even for astronomical medical expenses. A new study found that more and more Americans are facing a significant amount of credit card debt as a result of paying for medical treatments.

The study, conducted by non-profit groups The Access Project and Demos, surveyed people with health insurance and those with no coverage. Shockingly, one of every four Americans has difficulty covering their medical expenses and two-thirds of those individuals have access to health insurance.

Furthermore, the non-profits' research found that in middle and low-income families, 29 percent held credit card debt from medical expenses. Additionally, those with debt from medical expenses have an average of 46 percent more credit card debt.

What's most worrisome is that the age demographic most saddled with medical related credit card debt is adults 18 to 34 years-of-age. America's youngest adults are saddled with the greatest amount of this kind of debt.

The findings of this study have led the director of The Access Project to assert that millions of Americans are "just an illness away from becoming medical debtors."

This reality puts many Americans in a very tough situation. No one wants to bury themselves in credit card debt, but who would want to do without necessary medical treatment? This a dilemma that a person would never want to encounter, but so many do. Those dealing with a life-threatening illness, or their families, should not have to deal with debt collectors when they should be healing.

Source: MSN Health, "More Americans Paying Their Medical Bills With Credit Cards," Amanda Gardner, Jan. 16, 2012