CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons celebrated Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement that the latest round of relief in the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has erased more than $220 million dollars in medical debt for approximately, 170,000 additional individuals statewide.

"As one of the first states in the country to tackle medical debt, Illinois has taken a monumental step toward improving health equity by assisting with burdensome debt weighing on residents across our state," said Simmons (D-Chicago). "When someone has medical debt, they are less likely to seek out medical care that could improve or save their life – a decision no one should have to make. I am proud to have championed this legislation forward into action and I am thrilled Illinois is providing relief to residents while improving the health of our communities in the long run."

The average amount of debt erased per person during this round is nearly $1,300, bringing the program’s total erased debt to more than $345 million dollars for nearly 270,000 Illinois residents.

The Medical Debt Relief Program launched in 2024 through Simmons’ House Bill 5290 provides a life-changing benefit for impacted Illinois residents for an extraordinary return on the state’s investment. Every one dollar spent on medical debt buyback and relief programs erases approximately $170 in medical debt for patients. In total, the state has spent approximately $2 million on the program to relieve a total of $345 million in debt for Illinois residents.

Illinois is one of the first state governments in the country to address medical debt. The medical debt relief effort is part of the Governor’s ongoing commitment to improve health equity in Illinois.

The program targets Illinois residents with a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or individuals whose medical debt is at or exceeds 5% of their household income. Eligible Illinois residents do not need to apply for assistance and are notified by mail.

Simmons vows to fight for the $15 million outlined in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal to continue the work of the program.