Cook County first county in U.S. to abolish $1 BILLION in debt

​Cook County partnered with Undue Medical Debt and started the Medical Debt Relief Initiative in 2022. The program has benefited nearly 800,000 people, totaling $1 Billion in medical debts forgiven since then. ​Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle says medical debt for too many families has {quote} "created lasting financial hardship and added unnecessary stress during life’s most difficult moments". To qualify for medical debt abolishment through the Initiative, people must live in Cook County, have incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their annual income.