Medical crowdfunding rarely helps those who need it most

Only the most successful campaigns are highlighted on social media, giving a skewed impression of success

CT scan

Online crowdfunding for medical expenses, such as this CT scan for a patient with cancer, does little to help those who need it most.

Travis Dove for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Online crowdfunding for medical expenses raises less money than social media posts suggest and deepens health care inequities, a new study reports.