Medical Debt Freedom Fund

What We Do

The Medical Debt Freedom Fund is a new campaign by the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition with the goal of ending medical debt in Maryland. Through the Medical Debt Freedom Fund, our coalition is building a movement to free Maryland patients from crushing medical debt, end harassing calls from debt collectors, and provide former patients with the peace of mind to heal and recover without having to worry about paying a hospital bill they can’t afford. 

We are working across the state to raise money and pay off patients’ medical debt. We’re focusing on relieving the burden of patients at hospitals that are most aggressive in suing their former patients for debts. 

We are working to raise awareness about the problems of medical debt in Maryland, the impact of medical debt on former patients, and ways that we can work together to end medical debt. 

Apply for Medical Debt Relief

Not currently accepting new applications

The Medical Debt Freedom Fund was created with the purpose of relieving the burden of debt for patients at hospitals that are most aggressive in suing for medical debts. Check your eligibility and fill out the form bellow to apply for medical debt relief. *applications are currently closed

Medical Debt Application Form

As a nonprofit organization, the amount of funding available in the Medical Debt Freedom Fund depends on the sources of support we receive at any given time. If we do not currently have funding available, our SOAR Financial Counselors will work to assist you with other financial needs as well as refer you to other resources. Please contact our hotline, 240-531-3093 or email medicaldebt@marylandconsumers.org, with any questions.

Eligibility

• Original hospital medical debt cannot exceed $1,000

• Household must meet the following income guidelines:

2021 Income Guidelines

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,540 for each additional person.

If you meet these eligibility requirements fill out the form to apply for medical debt relief.

Our Priorities

• Raise funds through the Medical Debt Freedom Fund to eliminate hospital medical debt for former patients.

• Educate and raise awareness among the general public, policymakers, and government leaders of the problems with hospital medical debt and medical debt lawsuits.

• Advocate for policy changes that moves towards ending hospital medical debt.

Why We Do It

In the past ten years, Maryland hospitals filed more than 140,000 lawsuits to recover medical debt from former patients. Over 25% of these lawsuits resulted in wage or property garnishments against patients and in over 3,000 cases the former patient declared bankruptcy. The median amount owed to hospitals was $944.

We do not believe that anyone should lose all the money in their bank account, a portion of their wages, their home, or their car because they became ill and went to the hospital. This is particularly true in Maryland where hospitals are paid to provide free and reduced-cost care to working families. 

We know that medical debt falls hardest on low-income households and within Black and Brown communities. 15% of Maryland residents report having medical debt, while 21% of those in communities of color report owing medical debts.

Now, with the twin crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic depression, it is even more critical to address health inequities. Black and Latinx workers have been hardest hit by job losses as industries shed jobs and small businesses closed shop. At the same time, Black and Latinx workers are concentrated in ‘essential jobs’ meaning that they will go to work in low-waged jobs throughout the pandemic. In Baltimore City, Black residents comprise 46% of COVID-19 cases.

We need to act today to erase hospital medical debt for low-income Maryland families.

Kat Hyland

is an attorney at the Hyland Law Firm, LLC where she litigates consumer protection cases and works on auto fraud, debt collection, and student loan issues on behalf of consumers. She graduated cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy before earning her Master's in Public Policy from The Johns Hopkins University, Institute for Policy Studies. In 2011, Kat graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law, winning the Community Scholar Award for her work. Kat has also worked as a budget policy analyst for the Maryland State Department of Budget and Management and as a legal fellow for the Baltimore City Law Department and has interned for the New York State Supreme Court, New York State AFL-CIO, Transport Workers Union, AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees, Legal Momentum, and the Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Francine Hyman

is the Financial Counselor at the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition for the SOAR initiative where she provides support to older adults by connecting them to community resources. Her work with the SOAR initiative includes assisting older adults navigate the Renters' and Homeowners' Tax Credit application processes, as well as conducting benefit check ups and providing financial counseling. Prior to coming to MCRC, Francine worked as a Direct Service Case Manager providing support to older adults, youth and families throughout Baltimore City. She holds a Masters Degree in Management of Aging Services and a Bachelor’s in Social Work, both from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her experience, education, creativity, and sense of humor with a down-to-earth-, realistic approach enables her to be an extremely effective social worker who is comfortable working with diverse groups of people.

Marceline White

is MCRC’s Executive Director where she leads the Coalition’s work. An award-winning consumer advocate, Marceline’s commitment to economic rights, participatory research, and grassroots organizing has taken her to five continents where she’s worked with progressive advocates on fair trade, health equity, women’s labor, and more. Marceline has spoken before Congress, the OAS, and the Maryland General Assembly about economic equity and intersectionality. She’s written on advocacy strategies, gender and trade, economic rights, and consumer protection issues as well as authored poetry, essays, op-eds, and news articles.