(CBS-DETROIT) – Wayne County is eliminating $27 million in medical debt for more than 46,000 county residents.
The blame came from an area hospital, which Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human, and Veteran Services says “wishes to remain anonymous but is committed to community benefits and making health care accessible.”
The county partners with the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which acquires the medical debt of those least able to pay. To qualify for debt relief, you must be a resident of Wayne County and be four times (400%) or below the federal poverty level, or have medical debt equal to 5% or more of your annual income.
“With this program, we are doing our part to address how our national health care affordability crisis is impacting Wayne County residents. Medical debt is a financial anchor for too many families, often forcing them to to choose to meet basic daily needs or be forced to pay medical bills. We are proud to partner with Undue Medical Debt to provide a measure of relief to vulnerable families in Wayne County,” said Dr. Abdul El- Sayed, Wayne County Health Director and Director of Health, Human, and Veterans Services.
To date, Wayne County has invested $5 million as part of the partnership and the goal is to eliminate $700 million in medical debt. The province says another $2 million could be added in the future if needed, and that an average of $1 to the nonprofit will help alleviate $100 in medical debt.
“Since we first announced this new program in March of this year, a program designed to wipe out more than $700 million in medical debt, I have been thrilled to see the program’s success to date in helping so many of our residents in need. These resources will help alleviate the stress they have endured as they juggle paying high hospital bills while keeping the lights on and food on the table,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans.
Those who have their medical debt forgiven will receive an Undue-branded envelope in the mail this week. The letter is signed by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and no action is required by the recipient.
