Governor Ned Lamont announced today that an additional 97,000 Connecticut residents are set to have nearly $315 million in medical debt erased, marking the fourth round of a state initiative. Letters informing recipients of this relief will begin arriving the week of June 1, 2026.
This latest action brings the total medical debt eliminated through the partnership with the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to over $513 million for more than 252,000 residents since the program launched in 2024. The initiative targets qualifying individuals with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or those whose medical debt constitutes 5% or more of their income, with no application process required.
Governor Lamont emphasized the burden of medical debt, saying, "Medical debt is a burden carried by families in every Connecticut community, but it disproportionately affects working-class families." Allison Sesso, President and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, added, "Nobody should go broke just because they got sick, but our healthcare system too often leaves families on the hook for bills they simply can’t pay."
The program leverages state investments to negotiate the bulk purchase of medical debt, costing a fraction of its face value. The initiative is supported by $6.5 million in ARPA funding, which is available through 2026, with plans for continued debt cancellation efforts this year.