As the cost of medical care rises, so does the burden of medical debt on members of our community. In Franklin County alone, there is over $50 million of medical debt owed by individuals who cannot afford to pay it. Not only does this debt make it harder to pay bills or buy groceries, it also prevents people from seeking the care they need. We are Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP), a student-led organization at the Ohio State College of Medicine, and we need your help to SNaHP The Debt Away. As physicians in training, we believe no one should feel trapped by medical debt or afraid to seek care because of its monetary cost. In this spirit, we have partnered with Undue Medical Debt, to remove $3 million of medical debt from the backs of central Ohioans.
For every $10 donated, Undue can purchase and eliminate $1,000 of medical debt. That is $1,000 to put towards rent or a mortgage, $1,000 saved by a small business, or just $1,000 to put away for a rainy day. As fellow members of the Columbus community, we challenge you to donate $20, the cost of an average insurance copay, to help us in this mission. Together, we can make medical debt disappear with the snap of a finger.
