March 12, 2024

Governor Katie Hobbs announced last week that the state will make up to $30 million in COVID relief funding available to a national non-profit that purchases and forgives medical debt.

The State and Rest In Peace Medical Debt have launched the Affordable Arizona: Tackling Medical Debt for Working Families program, which they say will forgive debt for up to a million working class Arizonans who are earning 400% or less of the Federal Poverty Line, or whose medical debt makes up 5% or more of their annual income.

There is no request or application process, as the non-profit buys portfolios of debt that have been pre-qualified to meet those eligibility requirements millions of dollars at a time, at a fraction of the original cost. They then mail recipients a letter informing them that their debt has been forgiven, with no adverse tax consequences, obligations or strings attached.

Josh Freeman | KAZM News Director | josh@mellowmountainradio.com