A groundbreaking deal has erased $30 billion in medical debt for an estimated 20 million Americans. The nonprofit, Undue Medical Debt, made the purchase from a debt buyer in a move that will prevent these unpaid bills from being sold or sent to collections. The average debt relieved is around $1,100, and nearly half of those impacted live in Texas and Florida.
Even as supporters celebrate this historic milestone, they acknowledge it’s a temporary fix. Leaders at Undue and other advocacy groups say true progress will only come with policy change. With medical debt affecting over 100 million Americans, many believe it’s time to address the system that created this crisis in the first place.