Illinois Erases $1.4 Billion in Medical Debt for Nearly 700,000 Residents in Two Years
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced in Chicago on October 15 that the state's Medical Debt Relief Program has, in its first two years, eliminated more than $1.4 billion in medical debt for nearly 700,000 residents across all 102 counties — surpassing its original $1 billion goal by more than $400 million while spending less than $10 million in state dollars.
According to the governor's office, more than 694,000 residents have benefited, with average relief of over $1,200 per person and a single largest relief amount of more than $900,000. Every state dollar invested erases more than $100 in debt, and over $300 million has been erased since February alone. Combined with Cook County's parallel efforts, nearly 1.5 million Illinoisans have had over $2.4 billion in medical debt eliminated.
The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which purchases bundled medical debts from health systems and other holders and abolishes them. Residents qualify if their household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level — just over $100,000 a year for a family of three — or if their medical debt equals 5% or more of household income. There is no application; eligible households are notified by letter after their debt is erased.
Pritzker said no one should fall into financial ruin simply because they get sick. HFS Director Elizabeth M. Whitehorn said medical debt is a major burden for families and that having it eliminated can be life changing. (GSM, based on the Illinois Governor's Office release)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 伊利诺伊州议会大厦（斯普林菲尔德）· Daniel Schwen 摄 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
