New York City has committed to paying off $2 billion of residents' medical debt, following a model pioneered in Cook County, Illinois, partnering with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization. Click here for article.
RIP Medical Debt buys medical debt at a fraction of its value and forgives it, relieving individuals of their financial burden.
The initiative addresses the widespread problem of medical debt, which disproportionately affects people of color and those with lower incomes.
Cook County was the first to implement the program in 2022, and since then, seven other local governments, including Akron, Cleveland, and Toledo, have joined.
The initiative not only provides immediate relief to individuals but also raises awareness about healthcare affordability and draws attention to the need for comprehensive policy solutions to address root causes of medical debt.
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