A Twin Cities-area congregation has used a powerful financial lever to improve the lives of hundreds of families while drawing attention to a societal problem: the crushing weight of hospital and doctor bills.
The prayers of member Skip Lieser served as the ignition switch. Lieser, who had acquired considerable fiscal acumen during a year career with General Mills, dove into that question. He extensively researched the nonprofit behind the debt forgiveness, RIP Medical Debt , even developing a relationship with co-founder Craig Antico, a former executive in the debt-collection sector. Satisfied that RIP and its model—using donations such as church offerings to buy medical debt for the sole purpose of giving relief to debtors—were rock solid, Lieser brought the idea of a partnership to Hoogheem.
Hoogheem notes that the people most impacted by medical debt are vulnerable populations—those in poverty, older adults, veterans. RIP Medical Debt, Lieser added, rarely hears from any of the people it has helped, mostly because of the shame people feel over not having been able to square their accounts.
But the important thing is that the debt is forgiven and these families can move on with their lives. Lord of Life will continue to emphasize the RIP partnership in , including in its children, youth and family summer programming. The congregation will likely also advocate for legislation to facilitate the purchase of debt by nonprofits such as RIP.
Are we willing to listen, consider a plan and then act on his response? Debt from unpaid or uninsured medical bills causes thousands of people to spend their life savings, jeopardize their retirement, go into poverty or declare bankruptcy. Sometimes all of the above! Some congregations are helping by buying uncollected medical debt for pennies on the dollar and wiping out the obligation.
