Illinois has erased more than $1.4 billion in medical debt for nearly 700,000 residents through a state program that requires no application from patients. People whose qualifying bills are purchased through the program are notified by mail that some or all of the debt has been canceled.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the milestone on October 15, 2026, saying the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has now reached more than 694,000 people across all 102 counties. The initiative has surpassed its original $1 billion debt-relief goal while using less than $10 million in state funds.
State officials say recipients have received more than $1,200 in relief on average. At the far end of the spectrum, one Illinois resident had…