How To Apply For Medical Debt Relief In North Texas

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Campaign Created By Westminster Presbyterian Church, Arlington

We at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington, TX, are seeking to raise $25,000, which could alleviate as much as $2.5 million of medical debt for people in need in DFW. This medical debt relief will be targeted to those in our community 1) who earn less than 2x the poverty level, 2) for whom debts are >5% of annual income, or 3) for whom debts exceed their assets. We are also reaching out to other churches in North Texas to partner with to reach or expand this goal.

Even small contributions have a huge impact – every dollar donated can abolish $100 of medical debt and 100% of your contribution goes directly to relief! Plus, not only does RIP Medical Debt wipe out someone's debt, but they also see to it that derogatory marks on their credit related to that debt are removed for good.

"Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:11-12

Every week, we repeat these words in our congregational prayer. We ask God for relief from scarcity and for the imagination and will to pay forward that same relief to others. Our church's mission to share Living Water includes helping our neighbors particularly when medical debt and potential bankruptcy disrupts our lives.

Our community in Dallas / Fort Worth shoulders a great deal of medical debt. As of 2021, Texas has the 4th highest percentage of people with medical debt in collections in the country. The median medical debt in collections this year in TX is $1,068 – all while more than 1/3 of U.S. adults would struggle covering only $400 in a surprise expense according to the Federal Reserve. In all, medical bills are the #1 reported cause of consumer bankruptcies in the U.S.

"[F]or I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Matthew 25:35-36

Aggressive (but common) collection tactics like wage garnishment and property liens keep families from being able to escape cycles of debt or invest in their family's future – buying a home, attending college, or accessing preventative healthcare. As our neighbors are recovering from needed medical care or from losing a loved one, they are gnawed by the need and concern to gather some kind of payment. Jesus is clear when he cares for the vulnerable and lifts up the suffering: where there is need, an offer of care and relief is due.

Please join us in our effort to give relief to people in need in DFW and contribute whatever amount you are able. Working together, we can help get our siblings in North TX back on their feet and ready to feel whole again.

https://www.wpcarlington.org/

Campaign Support Recipients

Dallas-Forth Worth Metropolitan Area

$25,166.88

raised of $25,000.00 goal

Good Shepherd UMC is still so honored to partner now with the correct amount!
On behalf of Church of the Good Shepherd UMC, we are honored to partner for such a great cause!
Honoring a wonderful friend for a wonderful cause!

How RIP Works

Over a hundred million Americans, one in three, struggles with the weight of medical debt.

Here's how we lift them up.

You make a donation

With every donation, RIP uses its precise data analytics to pinpoint the medical debt of those most in need of relief: households whose income is below twice the federal poverty line or are insolvent.

RIP buys medical debt at a steep discount

Your donations allow us to buy debt in bundles. That allows us to buy debt at a fraction of the original cost. So whatever you donate has 100x the impact.

Together we wipe out medical debt

People receive a letter that their debt is gone. No taxes. No penalties. Just like that, they're free of medical debt.

Frequent Questions

Due to HIPAA laws, RIP Medical Debt cannot disclose the names, contact information or any other specific details of the debt relief beneficiaries.