Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents will learn that their medical debt is being relieved, “no strings attached,” officials say, to ease low-income Angelenos’ financial burdens.
The notices will be sent by Los Angeles County and nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to more than 134,000 county residents, who will begin to receive them next week, Los Angeles County Public Health announced Thursday, May 15.
Those notices will inform residents that their medical debt has been “permanently retired” and offer people information about additional medical bills and financial assistance.
“If you get a letter in the mail from LA County and Undue Medical Debt this week — open it. We’ve eliminated medical debt for more than 134,000 residents, no strings attached. This is real relief, and it’s hitting mailboxes soon,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn in a statement, describing this action as the county government “at its best.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Debt Relief Program, launched last December, provides financial relief by purchasing and eliminating debt for qualifying residents, and “aims to retire $500 million in medical debt for low-income residents,” the county public health department said in a news release. Undue Medical Debt acquires the qualifying debts “in bulk” through the program.
Here’s what to know.
How much medical debt is being relieved?
The notices going out to more than 134,000 residents are part of the first wave of medical debt relief, according to the health department. The amount being relieved in this round is $183,580,711.32.
How can I request that my medical debt be paid?
Relief cannot be requested, the county health department said in the news release.
“Eligible residents will receive an Undue Medical Debt and Los Angeles County-branded envelope in the mail without any need to apply,” according to the news release.
To qualify for relief under this program, you must be a Los Angeles County resident earning less than or equal to 400% of the federal poverty level or have a medical bill of 5% or more of your annual household income, according to the program’s FAQs. Additionally, your bill must be from a provider, such as a hospital or clinic, participating in the debt relief program, be past due, and you aren’t using a payment plan to pay the bill, the program said.
In Los Angeles County, medical debt impacts 1 in 9 residents, according to the news release.
“Medical debt continues to be a significant burden for too many LA County residents, with the total debt estimated at over $2.9 billion in 2023 in LA County — a staggering amount that has not decreased despite gains in insurance coverage,” said Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health department director.
“While the launch of the Medical Debt Relief Program now brings relief letters to thousands of residents, we continue to work with hospitals and health care providers to improve the quality of financial assistance programs and debt collection practices so that those with limited means are not facing financial distress for seeking medical care.”
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: ‘No strings attached’: Some LA County residents will get medical debt relief. Do you qualify?
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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