(WKYT) – Thousands of Kentuckians with medical debt will receive letters in the mail in the next week telling them they qualify for a debt relief program, Gov. Andy Beshear announced.
Beshear said 130,000 Kentuckians will get relief from $250 million in medical debt through the program.
The governor is signing an executive order earmarking $2.5 million for the state’s portion in the Undue Medical Debt program.
“It is impacting their credit, causing problems all across their finances,” Beshear said.
How the program works
According to the governor’s office, there is no way to apply for or seek the help. People who owe at least 5% of their annual income in medical bills will be among those receiving letters starting next week.
The program is also helping those who earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
One recipient’s experience
Melissa Henry benefited from having some of her medical debt erased.
“Suddenly my family’s income dropped 60% annually. I eventually went on disability but that income was 60% of what I had,” Henry said.
Henry said she is now able to give back and volunteer to help others, but said doctor’s visits and other expenses took their toll.
“And it builds up, and eventually it becomes a mountain you never feel like you are going to be able to climb. You have a spouse or others with medical expenses, that mountain gets even bigger,” Henry said.
Henry said the medical bills also caused depression and anxiety, but said programs like this one were a breath of fresh air.
Beshear said Undue Medical Debt has erased a total of $49 billion in medical debt nationwide.