Wayne Co. Erases $27M In Medical Debt For 46K Residents: What To Know

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — Wayne County health officials announced Wednesday that $27 million in outstanding medical debt will be erased for more than 46,000 residents.

The money came from a local hospital, which "wishes to remain anonymous but is committed to community benefit and making health care accessible," according to a news release.

The debt will be paid through Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that acquires medical debts from those who are unable to pay, according to officials.

Only people who live in Wayne County with an income no more than four times the federal poverty level, or have medical debt that equals 5 percent or more of their annual income are eligible for the program.

The nonprofit can only acquire qualifying medical debts from providers who agree to be partners, such as hospitals and physicians’ groups, according to officials.

Those who are receiving debt relief will get an informational letter in the mail from Undue Medical Debt this week. The letter, which will be signed by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, will tell which debts have been erased.

The recipients do not need to take any further action.

"With this program, we are doing our part to address the way our national healthcare affordability crisis affects Wayne County residents," Wayne County health director and director of Health, Human & Veterans Services Abdul El-Sayed said. "Medical debt is a financial anchor on too many families, often forcing them to choose basic everyday needs or being forced to pay medical bills."