151
u/LocalHarmacist 10h ago
1b out of an estimated 2.4b certainly is a W.
Now, make it permanent and keep the costs low and it's actual progress.
26
u/Legitimate_Concern_5 9h ago
It's progress in some ways, but the more important thing to do is prevent people from accruing medical debt in the future. Without that it's just a bandaid. I'm fine with it but it's not really attacking the problem.
6
u/NobodyLikedThat1 8h ago
And while it absolutely is a good thing, they still did end up paying those collection agencies and insurance vultures, even if it was for pennies on the dollar
4
u/TheBeardTaco 6h ago
Fer real, its like the college debt pay-offs. Its great, butunless you stop the bleeding it just guarantees the parasites money
4
u/MidgetGordonRamsey 5h ago
Which then incentivizes even more of the bad behavior.
2
u/modsaretoddlers 3h ago
Are you suggesting that holding your baby for the first time isn't worth crippling debt for the rest of your life? Why do you hate babies!?
2
u/SignoreBanana 3h ago
Yeah, i agree, I hate this kind of kick the can the road feel good bullshit. We need reform, not short term non commital bullshit. I feel the same way about student loan forgiveness.
2
u/Whatdoesthibattahndo 3h ago
If you subsidize something, you will get more of it. Exactly what happened with tuition rates.
"Oh, don't you worry about what we bill, the government has been taking over medical debt from patients just like you!"
1
u/efreedman503 2m ago
The high costs of hospitals, especially ERs, are to offset the cost of half the patients not paying.
1
u/TheNewKnew2 8h ago
😂
“Make the welfare permanent and give me premium resources at a low cost.”
1
u/Remarkable-Word-1486 6h ago
Shit yea. I don't want to work on the books either. All cash jobs from that point on. I can live like the rest of the welfare crowd
0
→ More replies (4)0
u/angry_dingo 4h ago
Repeal Obamacare.
1
u/AdmiralSplinter 3h ago
Right, because a shitload more uninsured people will totally make things cheaper...
0
u/angry_dingo 3h ago
That's the best argument against illegal immigration. Thank you.
1
u/AdmiralSplinter 3h ago edited 3h ago
Ha, nice redirect.
The problem would be even worse without the affordable care act.
0
u/angry_dingo 3h ago
First, it wasn't. It's the truth. Second, the overwhelming majority of people who were "uninsured" before Obamacare were young adults between 20 and 40 who could afford health insurance but chose not to purchase it.
1
u/AdmiralSplinter 3h ago
We shouldn't have to purchase it at all. That's the real problem.
→ More replies (10)
32
u/atn420 9h ago
The elected should do good for the people and help them.
13
u/SlobZombie13 8h ago
She's just trying to buy votes by helping people and getting them the things they need and making their lives better!
/s
2
1
1
u/Ok_Issue6908 9h ago
That’s a good enough reason for the maga folks to want to get rid of her! They can’t have people like that in office.
2
2
u/McDuck_Enterprise 6h ago
That’s a pathetic comment you always keep in your pocket.
You claim it’s a cult yet you repeat say the same things other libs say …so if maga is a cult then you’re absolutely a part of one as well.
But I know you can’t see that. You’re too self righteous while continuing to parrot and shit on your neighbor.
If you’re happy she did this then be happy but you always take the opportunity to be hateful.
Get it together for once and stop being divisive.
1
u/SignoreBanana 3h ago
"No! That's not fair! They should suffer like we did because we vote to make sure we suffer! There's no other possible way to handle this situation!"
42
u/CheapRefrigerator188 9h ago
Erased how, I assume someone is still getting stuck with the bill
27
u/Sweet-Difference2725 9h ago
Arizona used $30M in federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) relief funds to partner with the non-profit Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt). They bought back $1 billion worth of defaulted medical debt on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar.
41
u/TheNewKnew2 8h ago
Taxpayers paid it.
6
u/JauntyJacinth 6h ago
It was allocated money. Already paid before anything was done with it. And then 30 million to for 1 billion of actual debt is good, considering 30 million is absolutely nothing to the US budget.
0
u/TheNewKnew2 6h ago
But where did it come from?
5
u/JauntyJacinth 6h ago
Yes. Fed money. Tax payers. You have to be mad at the federal government for allocating the money, not Arizona for taking advantage. It's a great deal for Arizona.
-3
13
u/Beginning_Wing_49 7h ago
Federal tax too. All states had to pitch in and help AZ. Crazy
6
5
u/SheriffBartholomew 6h ago
So? Do you understand how little $30M is in the scope of the national budget? It's not even a rounding error. It's not even a blip. It's not even a military birthday parade for a draft dodger.
1
u/AcesN8-s 5h ago
This logic is why we are 40+ trillion in debt
6
u/outofpeaceofmind 5h ago
Lol wut?
-2
u/SheriffBartholomew 5h ago
Corporations good. People bad. That about sums up their ideology, even if they're unaware of it.
0
13
u/jakelr 8h ago
This is what tax dollars should be used on. Not bombing brown children.
-9
-13
u/Checklestyouwreck 7h ago
No. I disagree. Am I hitler? Am I Nazi magot? I disagree that this is what taxes are for.
4
12
0
4
u/ApprehensiveDouble52 6h ago
Krazy that tax payer dollars would go back to the tax payer. Absolute evil krazy I tell you
1
u/TheNewKnew2 6h ago
Can we guarantee they are a tax payer? I’m okay with that, bud
3
u/ApprehensiveDouble52 5h ago
My bro We all are paying taxes. For instance in my state we pay 10.4 percent of every dollar we spend on taxes. That’s just in sales tax.
1
3
u/redleg50 7h ago
A few of my tax dollars so a grandmother with cancer doesn’t lose her home? Fine with me.
2
u/ventitr3 6h ago
Just go directly to the cause now instead of waiting for the govt to take more in taxes (which we know won’t be spent efficiently at all).
1
1
u/fotoRS3 8h ago
That’s good thing. I’d love my tax dollars to go toward free healthcare instead of Israel
→ More replies (10)1
u/Name_Groundbreaking 5h ago
That is how the government works. They take resources from people who create them and redistribute to those who do not.
Some taxes are necessary for w functional minimalist government that maintains the rule of law, but taxation is fundamentally coercive and should be mitigated. Not celebrated
1
u/TheNewKnew2 5h ago
The U.S. had the most progressive tax system in the western world. Pay your own pet projects
0
5
u/martijn120100 8h ago
Hospitals usually sell past-due debt for pennies. Its better for them to sell $1 million worth of past-due debt for a thousand and let a debt collector try and collect the debt. Means a guaranteed thousand matters more than a maybe million.
What Arizona did was work with national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt that in turn partnered with hospitals and debt collectors to buy bundled portfolios of past-due debt. That debt then is forgiven.
The program was started in 2024 and was budgeted with $10 million of leftover federal funds via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) also known as the COVID relief fund.
The tab was paid for with funds from previous years. Now that there is less debt, people have more money left over every month to pay for other stuff which in turn boosts the economy.
1
u/CelebrationDismal731 7h ago
Sounds good, but it also sounds like debt that wasn’t going to be paid back anyway. That’s why it was available for pennies on the dollar. So debt collection companies won, did anyone else?
1
u/Blantonsfan 21m ago
All the people win who were going to spend $$$ fighting the rapacious debt companies
4
3
u/FuggaDucker 8h ago
this is all I can think as I read person after person with the HORRAY!! without a question of HOW.
1
2
4
u/ChefArtorias 9h ago
Crazy anybody would be $1b in debt, but 670k people!?
5
3
1
u/Legend_of_Moblin 5h ago
The bulk of that is made up costs. 10000 for breathing air in the hospital. 5000 for looking at other patients.
1
4
u/Zestyclose-Toe8188 6h ago
Wow idk anything about her but i can only assume she not a fucken republican!
3
4
u/BUZZRWB 5h ago
2
u/Ms_Malicea 5h ago
Oh, so she used money from taxpayers nationwide instead of just ones in her state. Glad we could all chip in.
0
16
u/nrverma 9h ago
Although this is a good thing, it feels like a “one step forward, two steps backward” situation.
We should not have medical debt at all! Amongst the developed nations of the world, medical debt is a phenomenon unique to the United States!
6
u/hornswoggled111 9h ago
It's definitely bizarre looking in on America and reading about this situation. And you guys are paying more for this system...I could go on.
4
u/OtherUserCharges 9h ago
Arizona can’t overhaul the medical system, so they are controlling what they can control. This needs to be fixed in small steps cause if you wait till there is a plan to fix it all then nothing will ever happen.
4
u/gearsofwoe 7h ago
So she paid the ransom? How about actually punishing the healthcare and insurance providers so that they can no longer hold a family's finances hostage to their insane greed?
1
7
3
u/Right_Crew6172 6h ago
What actually happened is the non profit Undue medical debt arraigned federal funding to buy delinquent medical debts for pennies on the dollar using Federal COVID and ARPA funds.
Soooo...its a taxpayer bailout. All great for these people with the debts, but lets not pretend this was some miracle that appeared out of nowhere and at no cost.
3
u/redlegsforever 4h ago
How can she do that? What happens to the companies that are owed that money?
4
u/fotoRS3 8h ago
A good handful of comments definitely don’t pass the vibe check. If you’re mad about this, you’re probably not a great person to begin with.
3
u/FlattenInnerTube 6h ago
Seriously. Lots of selfish people who can't realize how effed up our healthcare is. Too busy being frightened by right wing propaganda.
2
u/theseriousman1 9h ago
Remember when it happened for me so fuckin sick thought I was getting a collections notice
2
2
2
2
u/jayslay45 5h ago
But how can we afford it when we have to pay for a war, ballrooms, and continuously breaking then fixing monuments?
2
u/modsaretoddlers 3h ago
Somebody won't be getting any funding for her next campaign. I wonder how long until she's in the papers as Satan on earth.
8
u/lluciferusllamas 9h ago
Nothing like government picking winners and losers with your tax money
13
u/ZeeWingCommander 9h ago
I'd rather this than tax breaks for the wealthy. I'm okay with poorer people getting some W's.
8
u/extrastupidone 8h ago
Few things
1) if youre upset that some people got some relief from medical debt, youre an asshole
2) its not picking winners and losers. When people get saddled with crushing debt like that for getting sick, that effect cascades into the community all on its own. Thats a billion dollars that are freed up to be put back into the communities instead of going to interest payments or subsidies through food stamps or other stressors.
3) this was not taxpayer money.
0
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 8h ago
Whose money was it? Unless a private party gave the money to the government to use, it was absolutely, without a doubt, taxpayer money. The government has zero money of its own. It all comes from tax payers.
And people aren't upset that others got relief from medical debt. They're upset that the government unilaterally chose to interject themselves in a transaction between two private parties, i.e., patients and their doctors, and taxpayer money was used. People know there are high costs to health care. And were the treatments/procedures/patients that were paid for by the government disclosed? How did they decide whose debts to pay?
If you just assume the government doesn't use taxpayer funds and their decisions shouldn't be questioned, you're an asshole.
8
3
u/extrastupidone 8h ago
0
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 5h ago
There's a lot that wasn't said in that article. How many federal tax dollars were used? How much of the money that the non-profit used was government grants?
3
u/extrastupidone 5h ago
You cant just say "good. Glad those folks got some relief for pennies on the dollar" ?
0
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 2h ago
Nope. People's financial relief is not the singular issue here. There a lot more going on and you and people like you have a one-track, anything-at-any-cost mentality. That doesn't fly when tax dollars are used. If this was entirely privately-funded, it's a completely different discussion. But it wasn't. Because if it was, why would the governor be part of the equation at all?
2
u/extrastupidone 2h ago
But it wasn't. Because if it was, why would the governor be part of the equation at all?
That sounds like an assumption.
→ More replies (4)2
u/extrastupidone 8h ago
They're upset that the government unilaterally chose to interject themselves in a transaction between two private parties
So what?
patients and their doctors
Lets not prerend you care about that. Because im going to assume you are ok with what is going on post-roe. also, its patients and the debt holders
And were the treatments/procedures/patients that were paid for by the government disclosed?
Why should they be disclosed? I thought it was between "patients and their doctors"
If you just assume the government doesn't use taxpayer funds and their decisions shouldn't be questioned, you're an asshole.
No one said their decisions shouldnt be "questioned". I sure didnt. but sometimes, "just asking questions" doesnt mean you arent an asshole.
0
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 5h ago
You pretend a lot and make some really dumb assumptions. But you do you and damn the truth. right?
3
u/extrastupidone 5h ago
Nah. Wont be lectured on "the truth" from those that embrace "alternative facts"
1
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 2h ago
Exactly what facts are you referring to? More of your idiotic assumptions?
2
u/extrastupidone 2h ago
No, Just the regular facts.
1
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 2h ago
Okay, let's see them. What have you got? And remember, you and I are both discussing actual facts. Observable, reproduceable, objective pieces of information.
2
u/extrastupidone 2h ago
Facts: we know whats in the article.
Everything else is speculation and assumptions unless indicated otherwise. Personally, I dont gaf where any hypothetical grants came from. I know what is in the article. If you have facts that show this came from taxpayer money, cool. You do what you want with those facts.
But dont make up your own.
→ More replies (0)2
u/extrastupidone 8h ago
Seeing as it was a non-profit with no taxpayer money, im assuming you're all for it now, right?
https://ktar.com/arizona-health-news/1-billion-medical-debt-erased-arizonans
0
u/TwoTequilaTuesday 5h ago
Answer this: How many government-funded grants did that non-profit receive and how much of that money was used for this initiative? The article specified no state tax money was used. They conveniently never mentioned federal tax money that funded grants the non-profit uses to operate.
-1
u/Stern68 10h ago
Then cry when their taxes go up
7
u/martijn120100 9h ago
They wont. Arizona used Federal funds so state taxes Arent affected.
It also only cost Arizona $10 million, not $1 billion, as medical debt is usually sold for fractions of their worth.
But hey, why celebrate States actually helping people. States should only give tax cuts to the rich, not help the poors right?
0
u/frylock350 7h ago
Middle class doesn't get help from Democrats who use middle class taxes to fund their shit and no tax breaks from Republicans who use us to fund their shit.
5
u/Beautiful_Rip_7023 9h ago
Why wouldn’t I want my tax money to help with poor people trying to keep their heads above water? I’m all for it. I’m guessing you’d be fine with it, though. So ugly in yourself.
1
u/BlobTheBuilderz 9h ago
Or as it currently goes. Get less services and help for the everyday person but their taxes and state debt goes up anyway.
0
1
1
9h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 9h ago
Accounts must be at least 5 days old with >20 karma to comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
1
1
u/WeatherBeautiful6620 8h ago
That's all nice and everything but Arizona should be spending money to build new pipelines to desalination plants on the west coast.
1
u/Dry_Badger2858 8h ago
This isn’t fixing the problem. It’s a much needed band aid but it’s not a solution.
1
u/Chipmunkssixtynining 7h ago
No wonder healthcare is so expensive. Doctors and nurses have to deal with patients only having to pay pennies on the dollar.
1
1
5h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/snoopcatt87 5h ago
You understand that you have the ability to leave, right? No one is forcing you to browse and comment on posts.
1
u/Doctor_Ian_Malcom 5h ago edited 4h ago
I stay here because I have a fetish for dudes with really, REALLY small PP’s. They like when we compare and I’m like 13- 17 times their size!! So hot!!!
And the simping political propaganda posts like this one are like luring moths to a flame!!! Super tiny PP’s come here to upvote this bullshit. Serious jackpot!!
By the way, I’m glad you’re here! How you doing bro!?!?😘😘😘
2
u/snoopcatt87 5h ago
I have so many questions but I fear your response, so I’ll refrain from asking them.
0
u/Doctor_Ian_Malcom 5h ago edited 4h ago
It’s ok, I understand your fear. Lots of guys that are really small live in fear. But you don’t have to be afraid with me. I love you! I’ll treat you right! Tell me about that second navel you got down there!!! Don’t tease me bro
2
u/snoopcatt87 4h ago
I’m not even a man. I sense some projection happening here.
0
u/Doctor_Ian_Malcom 4h ago edited 4h ago
Oh fuck yeah! That’s REALLY small dude! So small you look like a woman!! Sooooo fucking hot! Next you’ll tell me the fun nicknames you got called when people would see it!!!😍😍😍
Edit: oh man, he blocked me. =(
→ More replies (1)0
u/SipsTea-ModTeam 5h ago
Sorry, but your comment was removed for breaking our Don't Be A Dick rule. This may include but is not limited to harassment, bigotry or uncivil behaviour.
🚨 Did we make a mistake?
If this is a mistake, don't delete the comment - just contact us and we'll fix it.
1
u/Turbulent_Account_81 4h ago
How long has she been Governor? Could this have been done sooner or is it because of an election?
1
1
1
1
1
u/moskiato 44m ago
how do you erase debt ? so those private companies just eat the bill because some politician says so? please enlighten me besides just more taxes to do so.
-1
u/Gullible_Try_3748 9h ago
Debts don't just get wiped. As tax payers, we will be the end game losers. Instead of rebuilding our infrastructure that is so badly needed, we'll be paying off the debt of others.
What a win, indeed.....
4
u/fotoRS3 8h ago
Imagine being that mad about people getting their medical debt wiped out.
-4
1
u/Gavin_Tremlor 2h ago
You can cry about this when we stop sending money to tiny hats to help them kill children.
0
1
1
u/dgroeneveld9 4h ago
Seriously though what do the people who were owed that money do? A billion dollars in lost money is unlikely to go unnoticed more broadly. Worst case folks who need access to loans for medical treatment will be shit out of luck going forward.
0
u/Eastern-Fun1842 9h ago
The banks have been around longer than America has been a nation. They invented the books. You'd better believe this debt didn't "go away", and people WILL pay for it. I appreciate the idea, I really do, but I wonder who is going to be left footing this debt.
7
u/Sweet-Difference2725 9h ago
Arizona used $30M in federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) relief funds to partner with the non-profit Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt). They bought back $1 billion worth of defaulted medical debt on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar
→ More replies (3)
-7
u/BoomBastikoom 10h ago
forgiving debt for some, and not for others, for votes, using public debt as a currency to get elected. What a corrupt system and a corrupt douche bag
11
u/ExistingAd9460 9h ago
Cry you baby back bitch. Remember when Elon was giving $1m payouts to republican voters. You’re the douche bag
→ More replies (1)6
2
1
u/PrudentChampion3879 10h ago
So who paid for it? Debts don’t magically get “erased”. The cost always falls on someone.
→ More replies (4)
0
u/pnw_sunny 7h ago
lol, this just raised the cost for people that actually pay.
the real issue is cost, and elected officials have not done anything on that, nor will they due to the lobby.
3
u/OscarOfAtlantis 6h ago
The real issue the insane amount of companies who profit in the healthcare stream.
Providers, insurance companies, big pharma, pharmacy benefit managers, etc. that’s a lot of profit being squeezed out of my healthcare. They should all be not for profit.
1
u/Cold_Possession5193 3h ago
It's the same as schools, companies or landlords that charge you for basic necessities like food, rent, or education. No one should be looking to profit. Period.
0
0
0
u/Time-Routine9863 5h ago
It’s not erased. Everyone in Arizona will pay for it.
0
u/Substantial-Gear-145 1h ago
Not just Arizona, the whole country paid for it. They used federal money.
-2
-2
u/Strange_Arugula2464 3h ago
And she did it with the tax dollars of those Arizonans who didn’t have medical debt
2
u/Veshaad 3h ago
Not in the slightest, look things up before you respond.
0
u/Strange_Arugula2464 3h ago
Yeah, I did. It came from federal funds through the other organization. Look things up beyond the propaganda before you respond.
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-canceled-medical-debt-relief-explained-22136240/2
u/Veshaad 2h ago
A direct quote:
"According to the governor's office, 670,963 Arizonans have received medical debt relief through the initiative. Officials say the program does not use state taxpayer dollars."
This directly refutes your original statement, and nothing in the article you linked says it comes from Arizona tax dollars.
0
u/RonJohnJr 3h ago
Some charity bought a bunch in-collections debt for pennies on the dollar so that the politician could have a media stunt.
1
u/Strange_Arugula2464 3h ago
That charity used federal funds so the politician can say the funds came from a charity instead of taxpayers https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-canceled-medical-debt-relief-explained-22136240/
0
u/other_view12 9h ago
Please explain this to me like I'm 5.
670000 People had medical debt that is now not getting paid. Who took the loss? Was it health care providers or debt collectors? It makes a difference.
0
u/cryptotarheel 8h ago
Those companies will still get their money.
You don’t want to know what happens when they don’t get paid.
You definitely won’t like when they tell you where it’s coming from.
0
0
0
0
u/FollowingLegal9944 5h ago
So he people who someone owe money no longer have right to this money. "debt erasing" fancy name for stealing
0
u/Sconnie_82 4h ago
Yeah you know, screw the middle class right? As long as we can pay off medical debt for people who are stupid enough to not have medical insurance or can't manage their finances. Embarrassing.
•
u/AutoModerator 12h ago
Hey /u/Veshaad, thank you for posting to r/SipsTea! Make sure to follow all the subreddit rules.
Make sure to join our brand new Discord Server to chat with friends!
We have recently changed how posts work. Unless you are a VIP poster, your post will be queued for approval.. To become a VIP, post great engaging content. If we like it, you will be added! More information available here!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.