Our article on Americans’ struggles with medical debt generated thousands of reader comments. More than 1,200 readers wrote us to answer our question: “How have medical bills changed your life?”

The article explored a large new survey of Americans who struggle with their medical bills. It found that while people with no health insurance are particularly vulnerable to financial distress, about 20 percent of Americans with health insurance were still experiencing difficulties paying for health care.

Readers responded with their own experiences of medical debt. Here are some of their answers, edited lightly. If you’d like to share your own story of medical debt, you can do so here.