A new program is helping over 140,000 people in Massachusetts by covering some or all of their medical debts, totaling more than $100 million in relief.
Atrius Health Equity Foundation, Undue Medical Debt, and the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association are working together to eliminate $170 million in medical debt for residents of Massachusetts, according to The Sun.
Starting around July 7th, people began receiving letters informing them that certain organizations would cover some or all of their unpaid medical bills.
The initiative is the largest medical debt cancellation effort ever carried out in Massachusetts.
People are receiving debt forgiveness ranging from around $50 to up to $450,000, and they don’t need to apply or do anything to get this relief – it’s happening automatically.
These groups determined who qualified based on their income and other financial details, instead of requiring people to apply.
The program primarily targets low- and moderate-income residents in Eastern Massachusetts.
To qualify, people needed a household income at or below four times the federal poverty level – that’s $63,840 for an individual or $132,000 for a family of four. The program also included those with medical bills that made up at least 5% of their yearly income.
Most people who received debt relief – around 85% – live in Essex and Middlesex counties. The typical amount of debt canceled was approximately $1,227.
Says Dr. Ann Hwang, president of the Atrius Health Equity Foundation,
The Foundation is dedicated to improving health equity in Eastern Massachusetts by addressing differences in life expectancy. Medical debt often prevents people from accessing necessary healthcare, so this announcement will directly help patients and families get the care they need. We’re eager to collaborate with more partners to support the overall health of communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
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2026-07-25 20:22