Gov. JB Pritzker announced that the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has successfully erased nearly $430 million in medical debt during its inaugural year, benefiting 357,800 residents across all 102 counties. On average, Illinoisans saw over $1,100 in debt eliminated. “Too many working families are facing real financial uncertainty and higher healthcare costs at the hands of the Trump Administration,” Pritzker said. “Illinois will keep stepping up to ensure the most vulnerable Illinoisans can focus on their health and their families—not on crushing medical debt.”
The program, supported by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), aims to eliminate $1 billion in medical debt over several years. “One year in,…