Millions in Medical Debt Remain Unclaimed in Indiana, Nonprofit Aims to Help
INDIANAPOLIS – A significant amount of financial assistance available to Indiana residents struggling with medical bills is going untapped, leaving manny Hoosiers burdened with debt they may not have to pay. Nonprofit organization Dollar For is working to connect eligible patients with hospital financial assistance programs, also known as Charity Care.
Despite every nonprofit hospital being required to offer assistance as a condition of their tax-exempt status,a recent 2023 survey revealed only 29% of eligible patients actually utilize these programs. Dollar For aims to drastically increase that number, having already erased over $1.5 million in medical debt for Indianapolis residents alone.
“We help make the bills go away,” explained Eli Rushbanks, Policy Director for Dollar for. The organization guides patients through the often-complex submission processes and advocates on their behalf.
The need is clear. Stories like Tiffanie Embry’s highlight the financial devastation medical emergencies can cause. Embry faced over $20,000 in bills after a car accident where she sustained serious injuries. “Somebody ran into me, right on top of my car and it hit me. Seat belt almost cut me in half,” Embry recounted. “The officers had to get me out of the car.”
many, like 24-year-old Shaq Abiola, avoid seeking necessary medical care due to financial concerns. “In college, if anything happened… it was just a hope and a prayer,” Abiola said. “There shoudl be more clarity in billing. Sometimes you go in for a surgery and you don’t know how much you’re going to pay.”
Dollar For offers a free online screening tool where individuals can answer five questions to determine their potential eligibility for assistance. Those who qualify are then directed to an intake flow mirroring the hospital’s application requirements.
Individuals can find more facts and access the screening tool at https://dollarfor.org.