Organizations pay medical debts for residents in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Medical Bill & Claim Resolution in Danville has partnered with First Baptist Church of Bloomington and RIP Medical Debt to help alleviate some of those medical bills people aren't able to pay.

The campaign began this year, and they've already paid over $3 million worth of medical debts in Illinois. Vice President of Communications at RIP Medical Debt Daniel Lempert said purchasing medical debt is actually quite cheap.

"Medical debt is really cheap to purchase. You can buy it in these big portfolios for a really big discount. One dollar donated to the non-profit on average can abolish $100 of medical debt so there's a really big impact for our donors," said Lempert.

But, it's not open to everyone.

"They have to belong to an individual who is four times or below the federal poverty level or an individual has to have a medical debt that is five percent or more than their gross annual income," said Lempert.

Founder of MBCR says the funds have made their way around the entire state.

"The campaign itself was a three to four month campaign. It ranges from southern Illinois to the northwest suburbs of Kane County," said Sunni Patterson.

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