Connecticut cancels $650M in medical debt for residents

Connecticut will eliminate about $650 million in medical debt for an estimated 250,000 residents this year, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday. The state will utilize $6.5 million in remaining COVID-19 funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to cancel residents’ debt by contracting a nonprofit group that buys medical debt from hospitals at a reduced cost. The debt cancellation applies to residents whose medical debt equals 5% or more of their annual income or whose household income is up to 400% of the 2024 federal poverty line, according to...