Economic Action Maryland’s Medical Debt Freedom Fund works to erase hospital medical debt for low-income Maryland families. The Medical Debt Freedom Fund provides financial assistance to eligible Maryland residents with hospital medical debt. Through the Medical Debt Freedom Fund, we work to free Maryland patients from crushing medical debt, end harassing calls from debt collectors, and provide former patients with the peace of mind to heal and recover without having to worry about paying a hospital bill they can’t afford. The Medical Debt Freedom Fund receives financial support from foundations, individual, and monthly sustaining donations. To donate to the fund, click here.

Thanks to strong legislative champions, your calls and emails, and our advocacy efforts, we were able to pass HB1420/SB875 in 2020, HB565/SB514 in 2021, and further expand medical debt protections in Maryland with the passage of HB694 . These laws expand the number of people eligible for free or reduced cost hospital care and eliminate predatory practices when hospitals sue patients for medical debt. To help you navigate these new laws, we designed a guide explaining your rights and responsibilities if you are being pursued for hospital debt. The guide walks you through different options and rights you have to receive affordable hospital health care at different stages in the process which are specific to Maryland.