Health Insurance & Medical Costs · Surprise rank #12
NYC Can Erase Qualifying Medical Debt Automatically—No Application Required
New York City's medical-debt relief partnership buys qualifying medical debt and cancels it without a consumer application.
Who
NYC residents whose debt falls within the program's purchased portfolios and meets the program's financial criteria.
Where: New York City
What to do
Start here: There is no application. Use the NYC 311 program page for current information and watch for a notice if qualifying debt is canceled.
Eligibility: NYC 311 lists household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty line OR medical debt equal to at least 5% of annual household income. The debt must also be among debt purchased by Undue Medical Debt from participating NYC providers.
What you get
Qualifying medical debt can be purchased and erased automatically, with eligible residents notified after cancellation.
Benefit: Cancellation of qualifying medical debt without an application or payment by the resident.
Possible value: Depends on the amount of qualifying debt that is acquired and canceled.
Good to know
Important: There is no application, but meeting the financial threshold does not guarantee that a particular debt will be erased. The debt must be part of a portfolio that Undue Medical Debt acquires.
Availability: Active automatic-relief initiative
Why people miss it: Most aid programs require an application; this one works by acquiring qualifying debt and notifying residents afterward.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026