Undue Medical Debt’s Innovative Model Delivers Life-changing Financial Relief While Pursuing Systemic Health Care Reform

Undue Medical Debt, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is transforming the way the United States confronts its longstanding medical debt crisis by erasing burdensome medical bills for millions of Americans and advocating for a future in which healthcare is accessible without fear of financial ruin.

Medical debt continues to strain families, forcing individuals to delay care, deplete savings, and endure long-term financial hardship. In the U.S., more than 100 million people shoulder at least $220 billion in past-due medical obligations, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and compounding inequalities.

Undue Medical Debt tackles this crisis with a donor-powered model that purchases bundled medical debt at steep discounts — on average turning every $1 donated into about $100 in debt relief — and then abolishes that debt entirely. This approach has delivered billions of dollars of relief to millions of families nationwide, allowing recipients to regain financial stability and access to care. 

“Our work simply wouldn’t be possible without the remarkable generosity of our donors,” said Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt. “Our aspiration is a health care system where no one avoids care out of fear of financial ruin. Until that day comes, we’re committed to leveraging charitable giving to provide medical debt relief while advancing policy to lift this undue burden from families across the country.”

Undue’s impact extends beyond direct relief. Through partnerships with local and state governments, hospitals, community groups, and national advocates, the organization works to address the root systemic causes of medical debt, striving for policy changes that protect patients and improve health care affordability for all.

With continued support, Undue Medical Debt aims to expand its reach, deepen policy engagement, and bring financial security and dignity back to those affected by unpayable medical bills.