UHCAN Ohio & Impacted Community Members Applaud Biden Administration Action on Medical Debt
Milestone comes on the heels of Medical Debt Day of Action where Ohio residents shared their stories and urged the Biden administration to prohibit medical debt from impacting credit scores
Columbus, Ohio — Today, the Biden-Harris administration announced that it is taking executive action to prevent medical debt from impacting credit scores. This important action comes just over a week after UHCAN Ohio and impacted community member Samuel C. traveled to Washington, D.C., to share their stories with the Biden administration as part of a Medical Debt Day of Action convened by Community Catalyst. Together, alongside more than 70 groups, we urged the Biden administration to take more aggressive action to address the medical debt crisis in America. https://communitycatalyst.org/news/day-of-action-to-end-medical-debt/One key ask was for the administration to take action to stop medical debt from showing up on credit scores.
“We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for taking this important step to address the medical debt crisis in America. This important milestone will provide relief to people in Ohio who have had their credit unfairly impacted simply because they got sick,” said Charlotte Rudolph, Interim Executive Director, UHCAN Ohio. “We urge the Biden administration to build on this important announcement by continuing to provide additional protections our community needs, including a prohibition on predatory deferred interest credit cards and new protections against unfair practices at some non-profit hospitals. There are additional actions the Biden administration can and should take to build on this important announcement.”
“It’s exciting to have such a celebratory moment following our trip to Washington, DC,” shared Samuel C. “Having the chance to share my story with policymakers was empowering and shows that when we stand together, and make our voices heard, we can’t be ignored.” Samuel C. is one of more than 100 million people nationwide, including those with insurance, that have been impacted by medical debt. Click here to read Samuel’s full story.
A 2022 study from the Urban Institute indicates that more than 1.7 million people in Ohio have medical debt, including those with health insurance. But importantly, medical debt doesn’t impact us the same. Because of racism, classism and other forms of oppression, people with low incomes as well as Black and Latinx communities bear the brunt of the health and economic costs.
Additional Background:
You shouldn’t have to choose between paying the rent or getting a prescription filled — yet for many people, this is a reality. When your credit score plummets because of an exorbitant medical bill, it shouldn’t hurt your ability to rent a home or to get a bank loan to buy a house or car — but for many people, it does.
According to a 2020 report from The Commonwealth Fund:
Learn more about the medical debt campaign and proposed solutions. Those that have been impacted by medical debt are encouraged to share their story with UHCAN Ohio at info@uhcanohio.org and utilize the “Know Your Rights” resource to better understand and fight medical bills.
If you need help paying for a hospital bill, you may qualify for financial assistance. Click here for more information.
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About UHCAN Ohio:
UHCAN Ohio is a nonpartisan statewide health care advocacy organization working to achieve high quality, affordable health care for all Ohioans by promoting antiracism and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard. We work to bring the voice of consumers to health care decision makers in Ohio. We believe that patients, consumers and concerned Ohioans must play a central role in health care at all levels from individual encounters with providers to the design of health systems and the creation of health policy. Learn More at uhcanohio.org
About Community Catalyst:
Community Catalyst is a national organization dedicated to building the power of people to create a health system rooted in race equity and health justice, and a society where health is a right for all. We’re an experienced, trusted partner to organizations across the country, a change agent to policymakers at the local, state, and national level, and both an adversary and a collaborator to health systems in our efforts to advance health justice. We partner with local, state and national organizations and leaders to leverage and build power so that people are at the center of important decisions about health and health care, whether they are made by health care executives, in state houses, or on Capitol Hill. Together with partners, we’re building a powerful, united movement with a shared vision of and strategy for a health system accountable to all people. Learn more at communitycatalyst.org.
