Haverhill’s Riverside Church said this week it is playing a significant role in helping 1,500 low-income and vulnerable residents get out from under $1.3 million in medical debt.
The church is working locally on, what it calls, the “groundbreaking initiative” in partnership with an organization called Undue Medical Debt. The idea is to erase medical debt for thousands of individuals and families throughout the state with a targeted focus in Essex and Middlesex counties.
“As if dealing with a medical crisis isn’t bad enough, the added stress of worrying how to pay for medical care makes the healing process so much more stressful. We saw the needs of others as an opportunity to serve our local communities” said Someris Rivera, church administrator and ministries director at Riverside Church.
Massachusetts residents’ whose debt is forgiven will receive Boston-based Undue Medical Debt-branded notification letters in the mail within the next three to five weeks detailing the amount of debt forgiven and the former debt holder. It’s a no-strings attached cancellation. There is no application process for the program. Qualifying medical debt will be automatically canceled.
“From the time our work at Undue Medical Debt began, partners such as Riverside Church have helped relieve the burden of medical debt for millions of people nationwide, over 9.85 million people have had debt relieved by Undue,” said Michelle Santoro, associate director, philanthropy at Undue Medical Debt. The nonprofit buys medical debt instead of allowing it to be sold to a for-profit collection agency.
The effort notes medical debt is a growing crisis in the United States, with millions of families struggling to pay off bills, even with insurance. Unpaid medical debt can lead to financial hardship, delayed or forgone care and negative impact on credit.
“This Easter many will hear about the message of Jesus Christ which is entirely centered on grace. Our hope is that through our church’s generosity and concern for our neighbors, people might experience God’s grace in a more personal and tangible manner,” said Rev. Mark Rivera, lead pastor of Riverside Church.