Somos Votantes Education Fund Eliminates Over $42 Million in Medical Debt for Over 26,000 Kansans – it’s Second Wave of Medical Debt Relief
Partners with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to bring relief to hardworking Kansans
Overland Park, KS — Today, as new federal Medicaid work reporting requirements and eligibility restrictions threaten to push more Kansans into medical debt as well as aggressive medical debt collection has become a documented reality for Kansas families, Somos Votantes Education Fund announced its second wave of medical debt relief, eliminating $42,436,967 in medical debt for 26,926 hardworking Kansans.
Eligible community members do not need to apply, and there is no application process. Instead, community members who qualify for this one-time debt relief will receive a branded envelope from national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt the week of Oct. 19 indicating which debt or debts have been eliminated – no action is required on their part.
Under Undue Medical Debt guidelines, those who qualify for this medical debt relief have medical debts that are 5% or more of their annual income or earn at or below four times the federal poverty level (just over $100,000 for a family of three). Undue acquires qualifying medical debts in bulk from providers like hospitals and also collection agencies for pennies or less on the dollar and then erases them out of the blue. One dollar donated erases $100 of medical debt, on average.
“As a proud Kansan, I've seen how hard families here work. No one has medical debt because they made an irresponsible choice — no family created this debt, a broken health care system did.” said Melissa Morales, President and Founder of Somos Votantes Education Fund. “At Somos, we believe a medical bill shouldn't be the reason someone can't pay rent or put food on the table, but that's the reality for too many hardworking Kansans right now. Somos will step in for working families when no one else will. Today, we're eliminating over $42 million in medical debt for 216000 hardworking Kansans”.
This medical debt relief is part of Seeds of Relief, Somos Votantes Education Fund's direct economic relief initiative, which has already eliminated over $133 million in medical debt for more than 128,000 hardworking people in the state of Nevada and will eliminate $240,000 in overdue utility bills for over 280 Michigan families.
"I, and the Undue Medical Debt team, are deeply appreciative of the continued investment Somos Votantes Education Fund is making in communities weathering the medical debt crisis," shares Undue Medical Debt president and CEO, Allison Sesso. "As we approach the end of the year, families are increasingly squeezed between bills, groceries and the rising cost of living. Medical debt, or fear of accruing it, shouldn't prevent anyone from seeking the care they need and I'm hopeful that removing these burdens in Kansas empowers families to re-engage with the healthcare system and put their health first."
National polling by Undue Medical Debt highlights the growing health care affordability crisis, with nearly half of respondents (45%) struggling to afford common medical expenses and more than one-third of (35%) carrying medical debt. National polling finds that healthcare affordability is at five-year low.
Today's announcement marks the program's second wave of medical debt relief and its first statewide medical debt relief effort. Community members can learn more about the program and Somos Votantes Education Fund's ongoing work here. More on Undue’s program here.
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About Somos Votantes Education Fund
Somos Votantes Education Fund is a 501c3 nonpartisan civic engagement organization dedicated to educational and charitable programs that empower the Latino community.