The Biden-Harris administration’s proposed rule to ban medical debt from credit scores is a crucial step forward, but the fight is far from over.

The Biden-Harris administration has made a groundbreaking move in the fight for affordable health care and economic well-being.  In a major win for millions of people, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has begun the rulemaking process to ensure that medical debt can no longer count against your credit score. 

This is a politically powerful issue. Recent polling found that 75% of voters support removing medical debt from credit reports and 66% of voters say they would feel more favorable towards a policymaker that supports these efforts.

Graphic of an article that reads "Proposed Biden-Harris Rule Would Remove Medical Debt From Credit Reports. June 12, 2024. From KFF Health News by Noam Levey. " In the foreground is a picture of Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
Why This Matters: 

Medical debt has long been a hidden anchor, dragging down the financial futures of over 100 million people in the United States. That’s 4 in every 10 adults. The inclusion of medical debt in credit scores has pushed families into financial hardship, often through no fault of their own. Whether it’s an unexpected surgery, a chronic condition, or an emergency dental procedure, these are situations that no one plans for, yet they can devastate a person’s financial wellbeing. 

Take Samuel, for example. He was on the brink of purchasing a home, with a strong credit score and a stable career. But after a sudden medical issue, his credit score plummeted from 720 to 580 due to mounting medical bills. His story is all too common. 

Two community members sit at a table in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 13: Samuel Camacho of Ohio and Alysia Cutting of Georgia speak at a roundtable on Capitol Hill on September 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Health advocates and community members gathered in Washington D.C. to push the Biden administration to take additional action on medical debt in an event hosted by Community Catalyst, a national organization fighting for race equality and health justice. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Community Catalyst)
A Step Towards Justice:  

Advocates like Samuel have shone a spotlight on the deep flaws in the current credit reporting system, which has unfairly penalized individuals for medical emergencies and unforeseen health issues. 

The Biden-Harris administration’s proposed rule is a crucial step forward, but the fight is far from over.

We know that opponents of health justice will continue to resist these changes, trying to maintain the status quo that benefits corporate interests over people. We must keep the pressure on.

Sign the Petition

At Community Catalyst, we believe that with continued advocacy, we can out-organize those who seek to block this progress. We’ve already seen the power of collective action—now, let’s keep pushing to ensure that health emergencies don’t lead to financial ruin. 

Join us in this pivotal moment to advance health and economic justice for all.