For many Nebraskans, the holiday season brings extra cheer this year thanks to a group of Creighton University students whose fundraising efforts have led to the forgiveness of significant medical debt. Their initiative has provided relief to about 1,500 individuals burdened by financial strain.
The Creighton chapter of Students for a National Health Program dedicated the past year to organizing events like bake sales, a flower sale, and a dance-off to gather approximately $10,000. This amount was used to eliminate over $2 million in medical debt. They collaborated with Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that purchases medical debt from hospitals at a reduced rate.
Allison Benjamin, the former president of the campus chapter who graduated in May, explained how Undue Medical Debt operates: “The reason that hospitals are willing to sell this is because they — and this is something that’s interesting about medical debt — but they don’t always think that it will get paid back,” she said. “For the hospital, it’s a better deal to have $1 instead of $0.”
This national organization targets medical debt relief for individuals whose income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or whose medical debt exceeds 5% of their income. Benjamin, who has extensively studied medical debt, noted that those in debt might avoid necessary healthcare services due to financial concerns.
“Medical debt is also a risk factor for insecurity, inability to pay rent, mortgage and/or utilities, eviction or foreclosure, and homelessness,” Benjamin remarked. “The spiral of economic disadvantage that results from personal debt, of which medical debt is now the largest contributor, tends to cluster in families and communities and crosses over to subsequent generations.”
The impact of medical debt is particularly severe in communities of color, with Black and Latino communities facing heightened challenges. A 2022 KFF survey revealed that over half of Black and Hispanic respondents were in medical debt, compared to 37% of White respondents.
For Benjamin, contributing to the alleviation of medical debt was significant. “I feel like health care is a human right, and I think to be healthy is something that’s essential for life,” she said. “Having this weight over you of having to pay this bill is just really overwhelming. I think that even if it’s a small action like relieving somebody’s $1,500 bill, that can make a big difference for some people.”
Creighton students, on average, managed to forgive approximately $1,455 per individual across 19 counties in Nebraska.
This project echoes similar initiatives undertaken by other groups, such as an Omaha church that raised $25,000 to cancel $2.5 million in debt and a Lincoln church that gathered over half a million dollars to help residents with medical expenses.
Highlighting their fundraising efforts, Benjamin shared her enthusiasm for the “Dance Off Debt” event. Dance clubs, including the Salsa Club, showcased their skills to raise awareness and funds, selling tickets and conducting “miracle minutes” to maximize donations.
Autumn Woolpert, a recent Creighton graduate and vice president of the student chapter, also enjoyed the dance event. Her group, Hui ‘O Hawai’i, performed as well. “Being able to make a difference was the motivator that helped us put together all of these events and keep fundraising throughout the year,” Woolpert explained.
Woolpert expressed gratitude towards everyone who made the fundraisers, including the dance event, possible.
“`
