Community Catalyst and Partners Keep the Spotlight on Medical Debt in Washington, D.C. and Battleground States
New digital ads in battleground states mobilize voters impacted by predatory deferred interest credit cards
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Community Catalyst and partners attended a medical debt event at the White House with Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Director Lael Brainard of the National Economic Council (NEC). The organization has brought together a strong movement to end medical debt, organizing dozens of multi-issue local, state and national partners and impacted community members. This movement’s goal is to increase the pressure on policymakers to act with urgency and address the medical debt crisis, which impacts 4 in 10 adults in the United States.
Together, Community Catalyst and its partners have outlined key policy priorities, which can be advanced through administrative action. These policies would have an immediate and lasting impact on people harmed most by rising health care costs and lackluster enforcement and protection of people seeking care. Among them:
- Prohibit all medical debt from impacting credit scores;
- Hold non-profit hospitals accountable to their tax breaks, including through stronger community benefit programs that are explicit about charity care requirements;
- Strengthen requirements of hospitals to inform patients of payment options; prohibit hospitals from extraordinary billing and collection policies, and from delaying or denying medically necessary care due to non-payment;
- Ban deferred interest credit cards from being marketed in health care settings.
Following the White House event on medical debt, the Biden-Harris Administration made important announcements that will help millions, such as ensuring that debt collectors do not try to collect debt on incorrect bills.
Community Catalyst’s first-of-its-kind “I Am A Medical Debt Voter” campaign kicks into high gear for the final stretch through Election Day. The campaign is ramping up its on and offline organizing, mobilizing those impacted by medical debt in key battleground states to ensure their voices are heard in the election.
“We are doubling down on our efforts in the final weeks of this campaign,” said Mona Shah, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy at Community Catalyst. “We are going to make sure that policymakers hear from the more than 100 million people affected by the medical debt crisis. This is an urgent crisis and our campaign will ensure those who are living through this crisis can use their voice and have an impact on the election.”
Polling by HIT Strategies, commissioned by Community Catalyst, found that 75% of voters support removing all medical debt from credit reports and 66% of voters say they would feel more favorable towards a policymaker that supports these efforts. In addition, the polling found that cost of living is top of mind for voters currently and that policies aimed at preventing medical debt would have the biggest impact on their own cost of living. Parents, young voters under 40, Black voters and Latino voters predict even higher impact.
Just last week, Community Catalyst announced that in the first two weeks of the campaign, it had reached more than 400,000 people through paid digital media in battleground states.
While the White House event was taking place, Community Catalyst ran a billboard truck through Washington, D.C. highlighting the medical debt crisis and the urgent need for action. Featured in the ad is Sahida from Illinois, who has shared her story here.
The “I Am A Medical Debt Voter” campaign is engaging and mobilizing the more than 100 million people, 4 in 10 adults, who are impacted by the medical debt crisis in this country by emphasizing the importance of electing policymakers who will address the medical debt crisis with urgency and address the top area of concern for voters: the cost of living.
This is the first time a group has ever organized those impacted by medical debt to vote.
In the first few weeks of the campaign, Community Catalyst has already heard from numerous people in battleground states who have been impacted by medical debt. People like:
Jan from Georgia: who said, “For the first time in my life, I’ve put my health on hold, because I can’t afford it since retirement.”
Dana from Michigan: who said, “[My husband] has had nine major surgeries in eight years. I have had three plus a hospital stay for a septic infection. We cannot get out of debt. Our choice is to be in more debt or die. Please help the seniors of Michigan.”
Michelle from Arizona: who said, “My grandparents had to sell their farm when my grandfather had cancer! How many people have to lose their homes and businesses because of our country’s health care system?”
Learn more and hear from people directly impacted by medical debt here: commcat.io/med-debt-voter
Images from the D.C. event and mobile billboard, with credit to Community Catalyst, can be found below and downloaded here.
