Gov. Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley recently announced that all 99 eligible hospitals in North Carolina have signed on to the state's innovative plan to relieve medical debt for millions of people across the state.

The estimated total impact of the medical debt relief incentive program is approximately $4 billion. Nearly 2 million low- and middle-income North Carolinians will have more than a decade of existing medical debt relieved.

By signing on to the plan, hospitals have committed to relieving medical debt dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, for all Medicaid beneficiaries and medical debt deemed uncollectible for all patients whose income is at or below at least 350% of the federal poverty level. Past medical debt that exceeds 5% of a person’s annual income will also be relieved. Patients do not need to take any action to benefit from the program.  

The goal is for eligible North Carolinians to begin to see relief for existing medical debt within the next two years. For additional information, visit the updated Frequently Asked Questions page on North Carolina’s efforts to relieve medical debt.