Medical debt shouldn’t exist in America, yet it impacts nearly 1 in 3 people and is the leading cause of bankruptcy for middle- and working-class Americans, even those with health insurance.
The fact that millions of people endure this kind of hardship in the United States, the wealthiest country in the world, is unacceptable. No one should go broke because they fall sick—and hospitals shouldn’t profit off their patients' suffering.
It’s time for Congress to wipe the slate clean and pass Freedom from Medical Debt, legislation Bernie Sanders and I introduced that would end the burden of punishing medical bills once and for all.
Our measure will ease the impact of medical debt on credit scores and protect patients from aggressive price-gouging, predatory debt-collecting, and other unscrupulous tactics that bankrupt vulnerable Americans.
Healthcare is essential; it’s a right, not a luxury. Freedom from Medical Debt is the first step in establishing Medicare for All and fixing our healthcare system. It’s a bill that every American deserves.