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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChurch to pay off $5.3M in medical debt for thousands of poverty-stricken households in California
https://abc7ny.com/society/church-to-pay-off-$53m-in-medical-debt-for-5000-local-residents/5774995/A gift from Christian Assembly Church is wiping out $5.3 million of debt for the poor in 28 communities.
"I would love to be a fly on the wall for someone whose receiving a notification like this," church member Blythe Hill said.
The more than 5,000 impacted households will receive a letter with the news just in time for Christmas.
"There is 5,555 people that will benefit from this and they will all be receiving letters in the mail this week," Pastor Tom Hughes said.
The church partnered with the organization RIP Medical Debt. A letter from RIP Medical Debt states "you no longer owe the balance" and "no strings attached."
RIP is a national nonprofit agency that bundles unpaid medical debt. Entities like Christian Assembly can then buy that debt.
Church members are overwhelmed by the impact.
"Just to open that envelope and be like, 'Oh my gosh, my debt's been paid,'" one woman said.
The church collected about $50,000 in the past year. The members were unaware of how it would be used, but the big reveal is now planned for Christmas services.
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Church to pay off $5.3M in medical debt for thousands of poverty-stricken households in California (Original Post)
Demovictory9
Dec 2019
OP
the hospital didnt' get 5 million. the church bought the debt for pennies on the dollars
Demovictory9
Dec 2019
#7
badhair77
(4,218 posts)1. This is what churches should do - serve the people of the community.
Luz
(772 posts)3. It's great news, but what a shame the money had to go to
greedy hospital and insurance companies. Being able to invest the 5 million directly into the community would seem more beneficial.
Demovictory9
(32,457 posts)7. the hospital didnt' get 5 million. the church bought the debt for pennies on the dollars
JimGinPA
(14,811 posts)2. K&R
3Hotdogs
(12,393 posts)4. There is another organization "Jubilee?'"
That buys debt from hospitals and pays it off.
dlk
(11,569 posts)5. Wouldn't it be nice if the Mormon church used some of their $100 billion slush fund to do the same
Or other cash flush churches for that matter. Of course, that would mean walking the walk, not just preaching...
area51
(11,912 posts)6. One of many reasons why we need