From the Orange County Newsroom
Through its partnership with Undue Medical Debt, more than $472.5 million in medical debt has been eliminated for over 310,000 Orange County residents. This debt relief includes accounts acquired from local hospital systems and third-party debt collection agencies.
On August 13, 2024, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved a $4.5 million contract with Undue Medical Debt, a nationally recognized nonprofit. This investment, funded through the County’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, allows Undue Medical Debt to analyze and purchase qualifying medical debt at a fraction of its face value. Approximately $3 million has been used from the program’s budget.
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“This program is the latest countywide effort to improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “This collaboration with Undue Medical Debt has allowed our Board to efficiently maximize the impact of public funds, helping as many individuals as possible to become financially stable.”
It is important to know that the program does not accept applications. Instead, eligible debt is identified through partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers, and collectors, then purchased directly by Undue Medical Debt. Qualifying debt from an Orange County resident meets one of two criteria:
- Resides in a household with income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Has medical debt that equals or exceeds 5% of their total household income
Once acquired, the debt is fully paid and requires no action from the affected residents. Recipients will be notified by mail with an official letter from Undue Medical Debt confirming the relief. Those letters start arriving this week.
“For over a decade, we have been at the forefront of relieving the burden of medical debt for everyday families, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured,” said Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt. “We look forward to continuing our mission in partnership with Orange County.”
To learn more about the County partnership with Undue Medical Debt and for a list of frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/medicaldebt.
