Andrade Highlights Success of Medical Debt Relief Program, Erases More Than $400 Million Debt in First Year

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Medical Debt Relief Program, made possible by this year’s budget and supported by state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, has erased nearly $430 million in medical debt for working-class Illinoisans for pennies on the dollar.

“It’s clear that two of the biggest issues across Illinois are affordability and accessibility, and this debt relief increases the affordability and accessibility of healthcare,” said Andrade. “Erasing medical debt for over 300,000 Illinoisans means they have more money to spend on things they need, and knowing seeking medical attention won’t put you into debt will encourage people to seek help and treatments to improve their health.”

The Medical Debt Relief Program that Andrade supported earlier this year is a fiscally responsible assistance initiative for low-income Illinoisans with lingering medical debt they cannot pay. The low-quality of the debt results in a more than 150:1 return for every dollar spent, and this program has now relieved $430 million for 358,000 residents across Illinois in just one year

This year, Andrade helped pass a range of affordable healthcare measures including:

• The Prescription Drug Affordability Act, which banned a range of practices that drive up the cost of vital prescription drugs (House Bill 1697);
• Mental health legislation to help ensure mental and behavioral healthcare is on the same footing as physical healthcare (House Bill 1085); and
• A budget that funded the construction of new hospitals in underserved areas throughout Illinois (House Bill 1075).

“If over $400 million was erased in the program’s first year, imagine how much it will save people money in the next five or ten years,” said Andrade. “Erasing this debt could mean a family has money for their groceries or utilities or any multitude of bills they may have. I look forward to building off the success of this program and others to make life more affordable for everyone in our community.”