Orange County Eliminates Medical Debt for Another 47,000 County Residents

Orange County, FL - Another $42.9 million in medical debt has been eliminated by Orange County, affecting some 47,000 residents. Through its partnership with national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, Orange County’s second round of debt relief includes accounts acquired from both local hospital systems and third-party debt collection agencies.

In August 2024, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved a contract with Undue Medical Debt, which allows the nonprofit to analyze and purchase qualifying medical debt at a fraction of its face value. To date, the County has eliminated over $515 million of medical debt for more than 302,000 residents. Approximately $3.94 million has been used from the program's budget.

“Medical debt is more than a financial burden, it is an emotional weight,” said Sheila Santiago, an Orange County resident who received $7,000 in relief in May. “Having that weight taken off my shoulders allows me to focus my time and attention on my health.”

Orange County's program does not accept applications. Instead, eligible debt is identified through partnerships with hospitals, healthcare providers and debt collectors, then purchased directly by Undue Medical Debt. Since the nonprofit acquires the most burdensome medical debts in bulk for a fraction of their face value, one dollar can erase $100 of medical debt on average.

Qualifying Orange County residents must meets one of two criteria:

· Reside en un hogar con ingresos iguales o inferiores al 400% de las Pautas Federales de Pobreza

· Tiene una deuda médica que sea igual o superior al 5% del ingreso total del hogar

Una vez adquirida, la deuda se paga completamente y no se requiere ninguna acción por parte de los residentes afectados. Recipients are notified by mail with an carta oficial de Undue Medical Debt que confirma la condonación. Those letters will start arriving in the coming weeks. Additional rounds of debt relief will be announced in the future.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Orange County, bringing much-needed financial and emotional relief to more residents” says Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt. “This initiative exemplifies how local government can make a transformative impact on families who are least able to pay these burdensome debts.”

To learn more about the County partnership with Undue Medical Debt and for a list of frequently asked questions, visit ocfl.net/medicaldebt.