Advocates Look to Kamala Harris to Address Medical Debt Crisis

Patient and consumer advocates are looking to Kamala Harris to accelerate federal efforts to help people struggling with medical debt if she prevails in next month’s presidential election. They see the vice president and Democratic nominee as the best hope for preserving Americans’ access to health insurance, which experts say is crucial in preventing individuals from going into debt due to medical expenses.

Under the Biden administration, financial protections for patients have been expanded, including proposals to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports and limits on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare enrollees. Advocates acknowledge the progress made but emphasize the need for more comprehensive action to address the burden of medical debt on millions of Americans.

In contrast, patient advocates fear that a second term for former President Donald Trump could weaken insurance protections and increase the risk of individuals sinking into debt if they fall ill. Trump’s previous attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and ongoing attacks on the ACA have raised concerns about the future of health coverage and affordability for Americans.

Harris has pledged to protect the ACA and renew expanded subsidies for insurance premiums, while also supporting efforts to buy and retire old medical debts for patients. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is developing regulations to bar medical bills from consumer credit reports, potentially improving credit scores for millions of Americans.

If Harris wins the election, consumer groups are hopeful that further crackdowns on medical debt practices will be implemented, including oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products offered by medical providers. The potential for federal agencies like the Health and Human Services Department to address medical debt through Medicare and Medicaid programs is also being considered.

Overall, the issue of medical debt is gaining attention as a critical factor in the economic well-being of millions of Americans, and advocates are pushing for more aggressive federal action to protect individuals from financial hardship due to healthcare expenses.