Orange County Surpasses $750M Mark in Medical Debt Forgiveness

Orange County has significantly surpassed its initial expectations for a medical debt relief program that began in 2024. As of a recent announcement, the county has wiped out approximately $758 million in medical debt for 515,000 residents, outperforming the 500,000 mark they initially projected.

This remarkable debt alleviation is made possible through a partnership with Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that collaborates with governmental and community entities to tackle medical debt. Each dollar invested in debt purchasing can eliminate an estimated $100 in medical debt on average, according to Undue. The program started with an initial investment of $4.5 million and later received an additional $2 million, utilizing federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings emphasized the program’s positive impact on families as they work towards better health and financial security.