To donate to this campaign by mail, please send a check:
Payable To:
RIP Medical Debt
Address:
RIP Medical Debt
P. O. Box 411675
Boston, MA 02241-1675
Memo Line:
John Knox Presbytery Generosity Task Force — 45984
It’s a familiar story. A man was walking along the beach. From a short distance, he saw a young boy pick something up and toss it into the water. When the man was able to catch up, he saw what the boy was doing…picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. The boy explained that, if the starfish remained on the beach they would die.
The man tried to reason with the boy and told him, “There must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can’t save them all. What difference can you make?” The boy had found another starfish. As he picked it up and nimbly sent it into life-giving water, He smiled and told the man, “I made a difference to that one!”
With medical debt in the United States somewhere around 195 billion dollars, no one person or group can help everyone. By partnering with RIP Medical Debt though, each dollar you contribute will do the work of at least $100. You will make a difference to many people, renewing their hope and changing their lives!
In 2019, the Presbyterian Church (USA) began a ministry called “The Matthew 25 Initiative”. One of the emphases of Matthew 25 is “the eradication of systemic poverty”. John Knox Presbytery is responding to Christ’s call to serve others by partnering with RIP Medical Debt to purchase and forgive medical debt for as many families as possible. We have asked to have all donations used to help those with the greatest need so your gift will help people struggling to pay their medical bills in North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Idaho. We are inviting you to contribute and make a difference in someone else’s life.
Campaign Support Recipients
- Recent Donations
- Sarah K. just donated $159
- Anonymous just donated $58.50
- Anonymous just donated $21.50
To donate to this campaign by mail, please send a check:
Payable To:
RIP Medical Debt
Address:
RIP Medical Debt
P. O. Box 411675
Boston, MA 02241-1675
Memo Line:
John Knox Presbytery Generosity Task Force — 45984
- Recent Donations
- Sarah K. just donated $159
- Anonymous just donated $58.50
- Anonymous just donated $21.50
New research on the impacts of medical debt
A new survey published by PerryUndem in 2023 shows that medical debt is a shared experience for patients across the country.
Key Findings
Patients are making tradeoffs that affect their daily lives.
- Nearly 7 in 10 Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they receive medical bills they cannot afford. Many are forced to delay paying the bill, put it on a credit card, or challenge the bill.
- 6 in 10 Six in ten patients report they have self-treated, delayed, or skipped dental and medical appointments. Thirty-four percent report changing the foods they eat or eating less food to afford health care.
People and patients feel trapped in debt and see no way out. They see medical debt as different from other forms of debt - entirely the fault of institutions and systems, and not something consumers have any control over.
- Nearly 50% Nearly half feel trapped and believe they will never be able to pay off their debt, while a third of respondents reported feeling heightened depression and anxiety.
- Nearly 9 in 10 Nearly 9 in 10 blame the health care industry for fueling the medical debt crisis - not patients themselves. They say the problem stems from the system putting profit over patients.
Fundraise for This Campaign
Start a fundraiser to help those in need. Set a personal fundraising goal and track online donations easily with RIP.
How RIP Works
Over a hundred million Americans, one in three, struggles with the weight of medical debt.
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You make a donation
We use data analytics to pinpoint the debt of those most in need: households that earn less than 4x the federal poverty level (varies by state, family size) or whose debts are 5% or more of annual income.
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RIP buys medical debt at a steep discount
We buy debt in bundles, millions of dollars at a time at a fraction of the original cost. This means your donation relieves about 100x its value in medical debt.
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Together we wipe out medical debt
People across the country receive letters that their debt has been erased. They have no tax consequences or penalties to consider. Just like that, they’re free of medical debt.
Frequent Questions
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