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Medical Debt
Medical debt is widely considered a significant justice issue in the United States because it can impact almost anyone, especially those with low/fixed income, young adults, and people with disabilities. The burden of this debt financially cripples individuals and families and creates substantial barriers to health and economic stability.
St. Joseph the Worker is a founding member of an interfaith coalition THEE Alliance Forgiving Medical Debt that includes dozens of Midwest faith communities helping to erase medical debt for “our neighbors” facing financial hardship.
Our coalition purchases discounted hospital medical debt for pennies on the dollar through a non-profit organization called Undue Medical Debt. Families are then notified their debt has been forgiven, tax free, thereby restoring their credit and ability to buy basics, which gives them hope for their future!
Since our formation three years ago, THEE Alliance (through our partner UNDUE Medical Debt) has become the largest faith base group forgiving medical debt in the USA!
As of August 2025, we been able to purchase and forgive over $115 million of medical debt for more than 117,000 families in the Upper Midwest and across the country!
Make a Donation for our Next Debt Buy
Learn More about THEE Alliance: https://www.theealliance.org/home
Learn more about Undue Medical Debt: https://unduemedicaldebt.orgMore Information on Medical Debt
Medical debt is widely considered a significant justice issue in the United States because it can impact almost anyone, especially those with low/fixed income, young adults, and people with disabilities. The burden of this debt financially cripples individuals and families and creates substantial barriers to health and economic stability.
Organizations like the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and Undue Medical Debt advocate for policy changes and provide resources to address the root causes of this crisis, emphasizing that the burden of medical debt should not fall on the individuals who are sick.Articles on Medical Debt:
“Medical debt is a violation of human rights” - Harvard Law Today event on medical debt, health experts and journalists raise serious concerns about the affordability of testing and hospital care. https://hls.harvard.edu/today/medical-debt-is-a-violation-of-human-rights/
“The US Medical Debt Crisis” – Roosevelt Institute analysis of decades of dysfunctional health-care policy, market-oriented insurance system, and a patchwork of safety net programs that have contributed to this crisis. https://rooseveltinstitute.org/publications/medical-debt/
“How medical debt is harming Americans…” - Lown Institute research shows medical debt is common and costly, at least 8% and as many as 41% of American adults are estimated to have medical debt. https://lowninstitute.org/projects/past-due-how-medical-debt-is-harming-americans-and-the-solutions-we-need-now/