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$32,148.00

achieved

$80,000.00

goal

of your goal reached

You could put a dent in the nearly $8 million of medical debt available in Washington State. Every dollar you give abolishes $100 of debt.

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How to Get Involved

Thank you for your interest in abolishing medical debt for your fellow Washington State residents! Please learn more about RIP Medical Debt through the information available on this page. To get involved, you can make a donation or register to become a fundraiser and raise donations through your friends, community, and neighbors using the buttons above or at the bottom of the page (there is no fee to register as a fundraiser). 

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Donate online below, or donate by mail by sending a check to:

RIP Medical Debt
80 Theodore Fremd Ave
Rye, NY 10580

Include a note specifying your donation for the Washington campaign, or write "Washington" in the memo line.

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Abolish Washington State Medical Debt

The Problem: Our country is facing a public health pandemic and it's difficult to know what to do about it. In the past forty years, medical costs have doubled, insurance copays and deductibles have spiked, and bankruptcy rates have quadrupled creating an avalanche of destructive medical debt. 

We have already seen the far-reaching economic consequences in our markets, but many people will be saddled with enormous new debts as they seek treatment. We know that American's are less likely to seek medical care if they already owe previous medical debts. More than 60% of bankruptcies in America have medical debt as a root cause, and the situation is especially dire in the state of Washington as one of the leading locations of COVID-19 outbreak in the US. We've identified $8 million of existing medical debt that we can clear away responsibly, which will cost roughly $80,000.

This campaign is an effort to clear away as much existing medical debt as we can access throughout the state to provide a form of economic relief to Washington residents and to help people feel more confident about seeking treatment should this virus infect them personally, or others in their family. 

The unofficial motto of Washington is the indigenous phrase "Al-ki" or "Bye and Bye." Many historians have taken this phrase to indicate a yearning for progress and a prosperous future, something which truly embodies the spirit of Washington State. Despite the uncertainty of the times, we know that now more than ever, Washington State residents are looking for a way to gather with their communities to build a better tomorrow. There is no doubt that all Washington residents are eager to lend a hand to those burdened by the staggering unemployment rates and mounting medical costs associated with the virus. However, the rippling and devastating impacts of the COVID-19 virus can often leave us unsure of how we can support our most vulnerable neighbors in times of quarantine and isolation. 
 

RIP’s Solution: RIP Medical Debt uses your donations to purchase bundled medical debt portfolios on the secondary debt market, and then forgives that debt at pennies on the dollar. 

On average, $1 is leveraged to abolish $100 in medical debt, and every donation through this page will be spent directly on abolishing medical debt in Washington.

When debt relief recipients open the yellow envelope from RIP, they are told that their debt has been bought by a third party and erased with no strings attached. They owe nothing on the debt and face no tax penalty. A recent beneficiary wrote to us, saying:

"I read my letter over a few times to make sure it was the real thing. Receiving this debt relief renewed my faith that I can get back on track. It jump-started it – that we can do this – I can get back in the game! It's unheard of what RIP does, and it's a game changer in the medical world. It's a game changer for me.” 
    — Reagan, RIP Medical Debt Recipient of Debt Relief

Every dollar you contribute is a $100 investment in Washington towns and cities. Money will stay in the community instead of being taken by out-of-state debt collectors. On average, $32.87 can abolish the medical debt of an entire family, allowing them to invest in a home, schooling, or retirement.

Who We Are: RIP Medical Debt is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that locates, buys, and abolishes medical debt. We empower donors to relieve oppressive medical debt in their community for individuals who are below twice the federal poverty line, have debts greater than their assets, or have debts greater than 5% of their annual income.

RIP Medical Debt is unique in its expertise but needs continued support from generous donors. Compassion drives the work of RIP Medical Debt and every dollar is highly leveraged with a ROI of 100:1. Let’s abolish medical debt in Washington together. For good.

Please see the rest of the FAQ below and visit www.ripmedicaldebt.org for more information. 

Facts about Medical Debt

  • More than $100 billion in unpaid medical debt every year adversely impacts debtor patients, physicians, and hospitals.
  • 6 in 10 of both insured and uninsured people say they have difficulty in paying other bills as a result of medical debt. Over a third were unable to pay for food, heat, or housing because of medical bills.
  • Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults under age 65, or 116 million people, had medical bill problems or debt, went without needed care because of cost, were uninsured for a time, or were underinsured—insured but had high out-of-pocket medical expenses or deductibles relative to income.
  • Medical debt contributes to more than 60% of the bankruptcies in the US. Until satisfied, debt lingers on a person’s credit report to negatively impact their ability to buy a home, get a loan, or even gain employment.

Whose unpayable medical bills does RIP forgive?

  • Individuals who make less than twice the federal poverty level
  • Individuals with financial hardship - a debt that is 5% or more of their annual income
  • Individuals who are insolvent (have debts greater than their assets)

Why donate to RIP Medical Debt?

  • Your dollar goes a long way! On average, $1 abolishes $100 of debt.
  • 100 percent of your donation through this form goes towards abolishing medical debt in New York.
  • RIP Medical Debt is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and our EIN number is 47-1442997. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
  • There are no tax consequences for those whose medical debts are forgiven. The forgiveness is a gift from a detached and disinterested third party (RIP Medical Debt), so forgiveness of the debt does not count as income for the gift recipient.

RIP Medical Debt's Federal Tax ID: 47-1442997

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