Church Partners with Undue Medical Debt for Medical Debt Relief

Fighting the Medical Debt Crisis: How Undue Medical Debt Abolishes Billions in Debt

For millions of Americans, a single health crisis can lead to a lifetime of financial instability. With over 100 million people in the U.S. Struggling under the weight of medical debt—totaling at least $195 billion in past-due expenses—the need for systemic relief is urgent. This burden disproportionately affects the disenfranchised and communities of color, turning healthcare into a source of fear rather than healing.

Enter Undue Medical Debt (formerly known as RIP Medical Debt). This Long Island City-based 501(c)(3) charity uses a high-impact financial model to eliminate personal medical debt for those in financial need, converting small donations into massive amounts of debt relief.

How the Debt Abolition Model Works

Undue Medical Debt doesn’t just pay off individual bills; it operates on a bulk-purchase strategy to maximize every dollar donated. The charity identifies portfolios of income-qualifying medical debt held by healthcare providers and debt collectors. Since these debts are often seen as difficult to collect, the charity can purchase them at steep discounts—essentially buying them for pennies on the dollar.

Once the debt is purchased, it is completely abolished. This process provides immediate relief to financially vulnerable families. The efficiency of this model is striking: on average, every $10 donated relieves $1,000 of medical debt, meaning a single dollar can eliminate roughly $100 of debt.

Proven Impact and Scale

Since its founding in 2014 by former debt collection executives Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, the organization has scaled its operations significantly. The founders were originally inspired by the debt elimination efforts of Occupy Wall Street to create a sustainable, non-profit version of debt relief.

As of February 2026, Undue Medical Debt claims to have relieved debts for more than 15.21 million people, totaling over $25.4 billion in extinguished debt. The organization’s financial transparency is reflected in its 2023 records, which show revenue of $28,294,801 and expenses of $22,656,788.

High-Profile Support and Community Action

The charity’s innovative approach has attracted significant attention from media figures and philanthropists:

• Media Spotlight: In 2016, the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver helped the charity turn $60,000 in donations into $15 million of debt relief.
• Philanthropic Gifts: In December 2020, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $50 million to the cause.
• Athlete Contributions: In January 2020, Atlanta Hawks player Trae Young donated $10,000, which abolished $1,000,000 in medical debt.
• Faith-Based Partnerships: In April 2023, the Trinity Moravian Church of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, gained viral attention after spending $15,000 to acquire and abolish medical debts.

Beyond Relief: Addressing Systemic Failure

Although purchasing debt provides immediate relief, Undue Medical Debt views the existence of medical debt as a failure of policies and systems, not people. The organization works to fix the broken healthcare finance system through several channels:

• Policy Advocacy: Collaborating with policymakers to implement system-wide improvements.
• Government Partnerships: Partnering with state and local governments to scale debt relief.
• Provider Collaboration: Working with hospitals and healthcare providers to reduce the burden on patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for debt relief?

The charity focuses on “income-qualifying” medical debt, ensuring that relief reaches families in genuine financial need.

How can individuals or organizations help?

Supporters can donate directly, start a fundraising campaign, or partner with the organization through local government or healthcare provider channels to abolish debt in specific communities, such as the Georgia Community Debt Relief Fund.

Is the debt permanently gone?

Yes. Once Undue Medical Debt purchases the portfolio from the collector or provider, the debt is relieved, meaning the individual no longer owes that amount.

As medical costs continue to rise, the work of organizations like Undue Medical Debt serves as both a critical safety net and a call for comprehensive healthcare reform to ensure no one has to fear seeking medical care due to potential debt.