Casey McIntyre RIP Medical Debt How Her Legacy is Erasing Medical Debt for Thousands

Casey McIntyre's legacy is a powerful reminder that medical debt doesn't have to be a lifelong burden.

Casey McIntyre, a 26-year-old woman, passed away in 2017 after a long battle with cancer. Her family was left with a staggering $275,000 medical bill, which had a devastating impact on their lives.

Thanks to Casey's family, her story has inspired a movement to erase medical debt for thousands of people. RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit organization, was founded in her memory to help individuals and families in need.

RIP Medical Debt has been able to erase over $1 billion in medical debt since its inception, providing relief to over 1.5 million people.

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Casey McIntyre was a 38-year-old woman who passed away from stage four ovarian cancer.

She was a publisher with a subsidiary of Penguin Random House in New York.

Casey was fortunate to have had access to the best medical care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

She was keenly aware that many others in the US do not have access to such care.

Casey's final wish was to celebrate her life by buying up others' medical debt and destroying it.

She organized a campaign with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt to make this wish a reality.

Casey's campaign was set up on the RIP Medical Debt website, where donors can contribute to pay off medical debt.

For every $100 donated, RIP Medical Debt can relieve $10,000 in debt.

Casey's family was stunned by the response to her campaign, which raised nearly $220,000 in the week after her death.

The campaign has since grown to be valued at over $100 million.

Casey's final farewell included a memorial service and a "debt jubilee" where attendees were encouraged to wear something that expressed their deep sorrow and joy.

The debt relief fund is expected to pay off over $20 million in debt.

Casey's legacy will live on through the lives of those whose medical debt is being relieved.

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Medical debt can be a crushing burden for many families. It's staggering to think that some households have debts that make up 5% or more of their annual income.

Casey McIntyre's campaign highlights the issue of medical debt, which can be overwhelming for those struggling to pay. Medical debt can be a significant financial stressor, especially for those with limited income.

The federal poverty level is a benchmark that can indicate whether a household is struggling financially. If a household's income is below four times the federal poverty level, they may be considered low-income.

RIP Medical Debt is a website that uses data analytics to find households with medical debt that meet certain criteria. They aim to eliminate medical debt for those in need.

Medical debt can be a heavy burden, but it's not insurmountable. With the help of organizations like RIP Medical Debt, it's possible to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with medical debt.

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More than 100 million people in the U.S. have medical debt, with one quarter of adults owing more than $5,000 US ($6,790 Cdn).

Medical debt is a commodity that can be bought and sold, often at a discount, to third-party collectors.

A lot of debt never gets paid off, so institutions sell it in bundles to these collectors.

Those companies work to track down as much of the owed money as possible and turn a profit.

RIP Medical Debt's model mimics the for-profit debt buyer, but instead of trying to collect money, they send letters to individuals saying they're free and clear of the debt.

Each donation to RIP relieves about 100 times its value in medical debt.

Additional reading: Rip Medical Debt News

A charity called RIP Medical Debt is pushing for systemic changes to address medical debt.

The charity believes that buying up medical debt is just a temporary solution, not a long-term fix.

Sesso, a representative of the organization, acknowledges that medical debt is unique because people have less control over whether they incur it.

Medical debt can have severe consequences, including wage garnishment, court appearances, and even a lien on someone's home.

The charity advocates for policies that provide free or discounted care to patients who can't afford to pay, as well as affordable health insurance.

RIP Medical Debt aims to limit what companies can do to collect medical debt, which they consider problematic.

The charity's efforts are inspired by a North Carolina church that used them to erase $3.3 million in debt in their area.

Financial struggles are a harsh reality for many when it comes to medical debt.

38% of people delayed or skipped needed health care or filling a prescription drug because they couldn't afford it.

Making sacrifices is a common outcome - 39% of people cut back on necessities like food, heat, or rent to pay their medical bills.

A staggering 37% of people spent all or part of their savings on medical debt.

Taking on extra work is another option for some - 25% of people took another job or worked more hours at an existing job to try and cover their medical expenses.

More than half of adults who skipped care said a health problem worsened as a result of not receiving the necessary treatment.