The Delta County Democratic Party recently donated more than $1,000 and joined with Keweenaw Indivisible and other groups in eliminating medical debt that is in collections across the entire Upper Peninsula and a significant portion of Lower Michigan.

Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit with an outstanding rating on Charity Navigator, purchases medical debt that has been sent or is about to be relinquished to collections for pennies on the dollar and then forgives the debt. According to Valorie Troesch of Keweenaw Indivisible, every dollar donated eliminates at least $100 in medical debt.

Approximately 1,350 Michigan families in Congressional District 1 were in this situation when the fundraiser started and the number is growing every day. In total they raised more than $26,000, which will pay off more than $3 million in debt.

The Delta Dems chose this effort as they believe no one should suffer collection through their inability to pay for health services. It’s challenging enough to recover from serious health issues without facing financial ruin and losing hope for a brighter future. The burden of medical debt can affect one’s ability to secure housing and get a job, cause chronic stress, poor health outcomes, and lead to an avoidance of future medical care.

The debt also affects local hospitals and clinics, as unpaid bills lead to reduced services and care access. Upcoming changes at the federal level could also change how the country handles paying for healthcare.

Amanda Schwass of Keweenaw Indivisible said, “Services such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act are critical to providing affordable healthcare to members of our community. According to the Joint Economic Committee, based on estimates provided by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the legislation released on May 11, 2025 by House Republicans includes cuts to Medicaid and the ACA that would result in 30,379 Michiganders in the First Congressional District losing their health insurance by 2034.” Additionally, Schwass cited multiple studies showing that these changes could lead to over 50,000 preventable deaths annually in America.