Help Abolish Michigan Medical Debt Today!
To donate to this campaign by mail, please send a check:
Payable To:
RIP Medical Debt
Address:
RIP Medical Debt
P. O. Box 411675
Boston, MA 02241-1675
Memo Line:
Annika Brakebill — 46578
Medical debt is an enormous problem nationally and in the state of Michigan. As a future physician, I know our healthcare system can provide some of the greatest care in the world… if you can afford it. I also know that debt incurred by accessing needed healthcare is a leading cause of bankruptcy. Some hospitals sue patients who can’t pay their bills, sell debt to collectors, or report medical debt to credit scores. The federal government recently announced plans to create rules to prevent medical debt from adversely affecting credit scores, a step in the right direction. But there remains much work to be done to make sure Michiganders can access needed care without severe financial consequences.
Having gone into medicine to help people, it disheartens me to hear stories and experience firsthand the financial strain that getting healthcare puts on our patients. One patient I saw was being evaluated for a possible heart attack but begged our team to do the bare minimum workup, as he knew a hospitalization would cost him thousands of dollars he could not afford. All patients should be able to access standard-of-care treatments without fear of bankruptcy, but unfortunately, this is not the reality in Michigan.
RIP Medical debt has access to millions of dollars of medical debt in Michigan. With your support, we can give Michiganders the gift of a clean slate. If we reach the $10,000 goal, we could abolish up to $1 million in debt. Thank you so much for your help and please spread the word!
Campaign Support Recipients
- Recent Donations
- Marisa L. just donated $53.20
- Anonymous just donated $100
- Kelly W. just donated $26.80
- Amy R. just donated $106
- Michael B. just donated $106
- Kathy F. just donated $75
- Anonymous just donated $53.20
- Joan S. just donated $128
To donate to this campaign by mail, please send a check:
Payable To:
RIP Medical Debt
Address:
RIP Medical Debt
P. O. Box 411675
Boston, MA 02241-1675
Memo Line:
Annika Brakebill — 46578
- Recent Donations
- Marisa L. just donated $53.20
- Anonymous just donated $100
- Kelly W. just donated $26.80
- Amy R. just donated $106
- Michael B. just donated $106
- Kathy F. just donated $75
- Anonymous just donated $53.20
- Joan S. just donated $128
New research on the impacts of medical debt
A new survey published by PerryUndem in 2023 shows that medical debt is a shared experience for patients across the country.
Key Findings
Patients are making tradeoffs that affect their daily lives.
- Nearly 7 in 10 Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. adults say they receive medical bills they cannot afford. Many are forced to delay paying the bill, put it on a credit card, or challenge the bill.
- 6 in 10 Six in ten patients report they have self-treated, delayed, or skipped dental and medical appointments. Thirty-four percent report changing the foods they eat or eating less food to afford health care.
People and patients feel trapped in debt and see no way out. They see medical debt as different from other forms of debt - entirely the fault of institutions and systems, and not something consumers have any control over.
- Nearly 50% Nearly half feel trapped and believe they will never be able to pay off their debt, while a third of respondents reported feeling heightened depression and anxiety.
- Nearly 9 in 10 Nearly 9 in 10 blame the health care industry for fueling the medical debt crisis - not patients themselves. They say the problem stems from the system putting profit over patients.
Fundraise for This Campaign
Start a fundraiser to help those in need. Set a personal fundraising goal and track online donations easily with RIP.
How RIP Works
Over a hundred million Americans, one in three, struggles with the weight of medical debt.
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You make a donation
We use data analytics to pinpoint the debt of those most in need: households that earn less than 4x the federal poverty level (varies by state, family size) or whose debts are 5% or more of annual income.
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RIP buys medical debt at a steep discount
We buy debt in bundles, millions of dollars at a time at a fraction of the original cost. This means your donation relieves about 100x its value in medical debt.
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Together we wipe out medical debt
People across the country receive letters that their debt has been erased. They have no tax consequences or penalties to consider. Just like that, they’re free of medical debt.
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