Oak Park and River Forest residents are among more than 791,000 Cook County adults who have had medical debt wiped out automatically through a county program that crossed the $1 billion mark on Monday, Aug. 17.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and nonprofit partner Undue Medical Debt announced that the Medical Debt Relief Initiative has eliminated $1,048,722,692 in medical debt since launching in 2022. No application was required. Qualifying residents received notification by mail that their debt had been erased.
The program used $9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase and abolish the debt, a ratio of roughly $116 erased for every $1 of public money spent. It is the most medical debt abolished by any county government in the United States, according to West Cook News.
"Medical debt should never stand between someone and their future," Preckwinkle said in the Monday announcement. "For too many families, it has forced impossible choices, created lasting financial hardship and added unnecessary stress during life's most difficult moments."
Who qualifies
Residents are eligible if they live within Cook County boundaries and meet one of two criteria: household income up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or outstanding medical debt that exceeds a qualifying threshold relative to annual income. The specific debt-to-income ratio is not defined in available county materials.
Oak Park and River Forest residents who meet the income or debt criteria are automatically included. Debts are identified and purchased in bulk by Undue Medical Debt, then forgiven.
What's next
The ARPA funding that powered the initiative is now in its final round. Preckwinkle plans to propose continued funding for the program in Cook County's fiscal year 2027 budget, along with new policy interventions informed by data the program collected over four years.
Gov. JB Pritzker called the milestone "a transformational achievement" in a statement, noting nearly 800,000 residents received "the breathing room to focus on their families and their futures."
No timeline has been announced for the FY2027 budget proposal. Residents who believe they may have qualifying debt can watch for a letter from Undue Medical Debt confirming the relief.
