We inform and deepen policy conversations about making our nation’s health care financing system more equitable and affordable.

What’s New

Trapped: America’s Crippling Medical Debt Crisis

Over 100 million people living in America, one in three, struggle with the weight of medical debt.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and RIP Medical Debt sponsored a national survey to explore these issues and shed light on patients’ experiences and attitudes towards medical debt – and potential policy solutions. The poll was conducted by PerryUndem, a non-partisan research firm.

New research on the burden of medical debt from RIP and NTFP
Brief 1 Insurance Alone is Not Enough
Brief 2 Medical Debt, Money, and Mental Health

New Blog

A Meaningful Step: CFPB Proposes to Drop Medical Debt from Credit Reports

Millions of people fearful of medical debt can breathe a little easier — the Biden-Harris Administration announced plans to end adverse credit reporting for people with unpaid medical debt. In their press release, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) outlined a set of proposals that would remove medical bills from consumers’ credit reports, end reliance on medical bills for underwriting decisions and halt one of the major coercive collection practices, dinging someone’s credit. As highlighted by Director Chopra, research establishes that unpaid medical bills are not a good predictor of credit risk. Medical debt is not a debt of choice — it is often unpredictable and a debt of necessity, and just because someone cannot afford their medical bills does not mean they cannot meet their other financial obligations. We stand with all patients and celebrate this long-needed action that severs the connection between medical debt and credit access.

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More than 100 million U.S. adults struggle with healthcare debt. There is more than $195 billion owed nationwide.

Medical debt is woven into our health care financing system and our economy. Our mission is to end medical debt. We have a unique model in that it combines the generosity of donors with debt industry expertise to produce a high volume of medical debt relief. The debt relief we provide reduces mental and financial distress for millions of people, removing a barrier to accessing the health care they need.

Nearly 1/2
of U.S. adults struggle to afford healthcare costs. For Black, Hispanic and low-income adults that figure jumps to at least six in ten.
3x
greater likelihood that individuals with debt also have a mental health problem such as anxiety, stress, or depression.

Policy Domains

1 —
Affordable and comprehensive coverage.
2 —
Easy access to and enrollment in financial assistance programs.
3 —
Banning extraordinary collection actions and monitoring medical debt.

Beneficiary Stories

Our policy priorities reflect the experiences of our constituents. We are committed to centering the voices and stories of our constituents’ priorities as we work to influence policy and systems changes that end medical debt. Read about the people RIP Medical Debt has helped through our donor-supported model.


Policy Resources