For more than 1,100 people across Ohio's Cuyahoga County, burdensome medical debt has suddenly vanished, thanks to one 20-year-old Shaker Heights native.
The Duke University public policy student Ethan Khorana remarkably turned just $10,000 into more than $1.26 million in debt relief for 1,148 people.
Here's what to know
According to News 5 Cleveland, Khorana spent about two months coordinating with supporters and the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to buy and cancel debt tied to several local hospitals. The group acquired a debt portfolio valued at about $1.2 million for just $10,000.
Undue Medical Debt says on its website that every $10 it raises can, on average, cancel $1,000 in medical debt.
News 5 Cleveland also reported that the relief targeted lower-income residents, including households near poverty thresholds and people whose medical debts reached a staggering 5% of annual income. The station said these residents are being notified by mail that their debt has been erased.
Now, Khorana is saying one of the most meaningful parts of the campaign has been hearing from residents, especially those who thought the bills would stay with them indefinitely.
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More background
Medical debt can follow people for years, straining monthly budgets and financial stability.
News 5 Cleveland said, citing the Urban Institute, roughly 10% of the county's 1.2 million residents carried medical debt in 2022.
But rather than trying to collect on medical bills, Undue Medical Debt buys them in bulk from providers and cancels them. In this case, the nonprofit worked with the young organizer in his home county.
Marisa Clemente, vice president of philanthropy at Undue Medical Debt, praised the campaign on its website.
"At Undue Medical Debt, we believe no one should have to choose between their health and paying their bills. That's why we're proud to partner with people like Ethan Khorana to lift the burden of medical debt for their communities," Clemente wrote.
She added in an emailed statement to News 5 Cleveland, "Every campaign like Ethan's brings us closer to a world where getting care doesn't mean risking your financial future. It's a powerful example of what's possible when a community decides to take on medical debt together."
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