It sounds crazy and looks like a scam: a golden envelope containing a letter that says part or all of your health care debt has been erased. But for thousands of veterans and family members, the mailings, which have been going out since 2016, have been the winning ticket for getting out from under a mountain of medical bills. The organization, RIP Medical Debt, helps raise the funds needed to purchase medical debt from the companies that hold it. RIP buys the debt for a penny — or less — on the dollar. Working with the debt holders, it finds patients in dire straits and gleans the list specifically to find veterans. Some of those get the yellow envelope. In the past three years, RIP Medical Debt has quietly erased roughly $65 million worth of medical debt for veterans, family members, National Guard and reserve members, notifying them by mail of the action, according to organization officials. Read more about the effort on Military.com.
Veterans Receive Golden 'Tickets' Canceling Their Medical Debt
