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RIP Medical Debt

Trinity Health Of New England and RIP Medical Debt (RIP), a national non-profit, have reached an agreement that will result in the erasure of $32.76 million worth of non-Medicare/Medicaid medical debt belonging to 22,300 individuals previously served by Trinity Health Of New England and who were unable to pay after good-faith efforts to collect because of their financial circumstances.

RIP is a nonprofit that acquires medical debts belonging to people who are financially burdened and then abolishes those debts. RIP then notifies recipients in writing of the financial and emotional relief provided by the abolishment of their medical debt.

If you received a notification letter from RIP, congratulations. We hope this relieves the financial and emotional burden of your previous medical debt! For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below or go to the RIP Medical Debt website.

rip medical debt

Is this legitimate? Is my debt really canceled?

Yes! If you received a letter from RIP Medical Debt saying your debt to Trinity Health Of New England has been abolished, then your debt is really and truly gone. You no longer have any obligation to pay this debt to anyone, at any future time.

Did RIP abolish all of my medical debt?

RIP strives to abolish as much debt as possible, but they often can only acquire select debts for their beneficiaries given the complexities of the health care finance system. Since multiple bills can pertain to one account, there is a possibility that RIP abolished some of your medical debts while others remain outstanding.

Also, the agreement with Trinity Health Of New England applies only to debts you may have had with Trinity Health Of New England that meet RIP’s criteria. You may still owe money to other health systems or providers that are not part of Trinity Health Of New England, or for accounts with Trinity Health Of New England that did not meet RIP’s criteria.

RIP does not work with non-medical debts, such as credit card balances or student loans.

Can I apply for other medical debts to be abolished?

Medical debt relief cannot be requested and is source-based, meaning RIP can abolish debts only for past-due accounts belonging to providers like Trinity Health Of New England that are willing to engage with RIP. RIP has two criteria for relief: individual or family income cannot be more than four times the federal poverty level, and/or the individual’s medical debt must be five percent or more of that person’s gross annual income. This effort aligns with Trinity Of New England's existing community benefit goals.

What were the criteria for selecting accounts to abolish?

RIP has two criteria for relief:

  • Individual or family income cannot be more than four times the federal poverty level.
  • The individual’s medical debt must be 5 percent or more of that person’s gross annual income.

In 2022, the federal poverty guideline was $13,590 a year for an individual, plus $4,720 for each additional family member.

Who is RIP Medical Debt?

RIP Medical Debt is a not-for-profit, national charity that raises funds from donors and uses those funds to acquire and abolish medical debt. Their IRS EIN number is 47-1442997. Since their founding in 2014 (as Medical Debt Resolution, Inc.), they have abolished over $8.5 billion of medical debt, helping more than 5.5 million people.

How does it work?

RIP Medical Debt is funded by generous donors. When healthcare systems such as Trinity Health Of New England reach out to form a partnership, RIP Medical Debt works with them to evaluate all past-due accounts. RIP looks for the accounts that are most burdensome for patients (see criteria, above) and then uses donated funds to purchase those accounts and erase the debt.

What is the goal of RIP Medical Debt?

RIP Medical Debt seeks to help families and individuals burdened by medical debt by acquiring and abolishing these debts. By cancelling these debts, they bring financial relief to families and reduce related stress. This then improves the health of patients, families, and communities.

Are there strings attached?

No! Rest assured, the debt referenced in the letter is no longer owed and you do not have to take any action. RIP acquired the debt through the generous support of their donors, and it has been permanently abolished. It is a charitable act enabled by donors who support RIP Medical Debt’s mission.

Please note that RIP Medical Debt may not be able to acquire medical debt in our area again. Their ability to abolish medical debts depends on many factors, including the availability of donor funding.

Why are you doing this?

Medical debt often results from unplanned, unexpected illnesses and accidents. About one-third of U.S. adults have difficulty covering unexpected health care bills. Medical debt also is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. In many areas and for many reasons, patient balances after insurance have been growing and many people remain uninsured. RIP is doing this to relieve people of the burden of medical debt, to enhance their economic opportunities, and to enable them to live healthier lives.

Do I have to pay taxes on this relief?

No! Your medical debt was abolished as a charitable act by a detached and disinterested third party; eliminating any potential tax consequences.

Can I have a statement mailed or emailed showing a zero-balance?

Yes, contact Trinity Health Of New England Patient Financial Services to request a confirmation statement. Be sure to have the relevant account numbers on hand. You can find them in the letter you received from RIP Medical Debt.

Why was my credit report pulled?

A “soft inquiry” into your credit history was made to determine your eligibility for medical debt relief by RIP. Soft inquiries are listed on your credit report but do not impact your credit score.

How can I share my story?

Just use the QR code in your letter. Those who respond to share their story within 14 days of receiving their letter will be entered into a random lottery to win one of twelve $100 Amazon gift cards. Winners are selected every three months and will be notified by email.

People helping people.

RIP depends on donations from individuals, corporations and charitable organizations to support them in their mission and purpose. To learn more about RIP Medical Debt, please visit https://www.ripmedicaldebt.org/. If you believe the listed debt has already been paid or wasn't owed by you to begin with, please contact Questions@RIPMedicalDebt.org.

How can I contact RIP Medical Debt if I have more questions?

You can contact RIP Medical Debt by one of the following ways:

  • by scanning the QR code from the letter you received
  • by email: Connect@ripmedicaldebt.org
  • by sending a letter to 
    RIP Medical Debt 
    28-07 Jackson Ave 5th Fl 
    Long Island City, NY 11101

For additional information, visit the RIP Medical Debt website.