As a senior in college and aspiring doctor, I’ve been immersed in rigorous courses and vibrant environments catered to the medical field and the career paths available to me within it. However, rarely was I exposed to information concerning even the basics of healthcare, this other side of the field I’ve grown to love learning about, that is similarly plagued with failures and hardship but in the form of financial burdens.

In 2019, two thirds of all personal bankruptcies were due to healthcare-related debt¹, and more than half of Americans with medical debt have no other debt on their credit reports.² With the fear surrounding the consequences of astronomical medical expenses, it’s no wonder that one in ten adults delayed or didn’t get care due to costs, with the rates of those in worse health being twice as high, and those of the uninsured more than three times as high as their insured counterparts.³ That’s where RIP Medical Debt comes in, by utilizing your contributions to forgive medical debt and prevent more households from having to choose between medical bills and basic needs like heating, food, and housing.

I am proud to be working with RIP Medical Debt under this Students-in-Action campaign. Each dollar we raise will abolish $100 in medical debt in the U.S., helping these indigent households gain financial stability and opportunity with a fresh start in life. With your help, we can not only provide relief to these families, but raise awareness about healthcare, educating and familiarizing ourselves and future generations about this massive industry and the role it plays in our lives.

1 “Medical Bankruptcy: Still Common Despite the Affordable Care Act”, American Journal of Public Health

2 “Consumer credit reports: A study of medical and non-medical collections”, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

3 “How Does Cost Affect Access to Care?”, Kaiser Family Foundation, Peterson Center on Healthcare