The UFC is stepping up to support military veterans and families across the United States through a major charitable initiative aimed at eliminating millions of dollars in outstanding medical debt.
The UFC announced a $250,000 donation through the UFC Foundation to Undue Medical Debt, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating unpayable medical debt for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship.
The donation will help eliminate more than $53.4 million in medical debt for over 39,000 individuals, including more than 33,000 veterans living across 27 states and Puerto Rico.
For medical debt accounts where veteran status could not be confirmed, the relief will focus on Texas and Florida, two states with some of the largest veteran populations in the country. This approach increases the likelihood that veterans and their families will benefit from the initiative.
UFC President and CEO Dana White expressed his support for the men and women who have served the country and emphasized the organization’s commitment to helping veterans.
“I’m a huge supporter of the men and women who have served our country, and we’re proud to partner with Undue Medical Debt to help eliminate medical bills for veterans across the country,” said White.
According to Undue Medical Debt President and CEO Allison Sesso, medical debt continues to affect more than 100 million people across the United States, creating significant financial and emotional challenges for families.
“Over 100 million people in this country are impacted by the burden of medical debt; behind that immense number is real people: our friends, family and neighbors, often suffering in silence,” Sesso said.
Sesso thanked the UFC for its generous contribution, noting that the initiative also brings attention to the challenges faced by military veterans returning home with both physical and psychological scars.
She added that the letters notifying recipients of their debt relief serve as an important reminder that veterans are valued and deserve access to medical care without the fear of financial ruin.
How Undue Medical Debt Works
Founded in 2014, Undue Medical Debt has eliminated more than $53 billion in medical debt across all 50 states.
The nonprofit works by purchasing qualifying medical debt in bulk from hospitals, physician groups and collection agencies for a fraction of the original amount, often for a penny or less on the dollar.
Through donations from organizations like the UFC, Undue is able to purchase and eliminate outstanding medical debt. On average, every $1 donated eliminates approximately $100 in medical debt.
Once the organization acquires the qualifying debt, it eliminates the balance and sends notification letters to individuals informing them that some or all of their medical debt has been erased. If the debt had negatively affected an individual’s credit score, the associated negative mark is also removed.
Who Qualifies for Medical Debt Relief?
Undue Medical Debt’s relief program is source-based, meaning the organization can only eliminate debts it is able to acquire from participating healthcare providers and other partners. Individuals cannot directly apply or request that their medical debt be eliminated.
Eligibility is determined by household income and the financial burden of outstanding medical debt.
To qualify, individuals must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Their household’s annual income is at or below four times the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- Their outstanding medical debt represents at least 5% of their annual household income.
While identifying veteran-specific medical debt is not normally part of Undue Medical Debt’s process, the organization was able to identify and acquire a unique collection of eligible veteran accounts from non-VA healthcare providers. This was accomplished by cross-referencing publicly available federal military personnel data.
Relief Letters Arriving Soon
Veterans and other eligible individuals benefiting from the initiative should begin receiving notification letters in Undue Medical Debt-branded envelopes in the coming days.
The UFC’s $250,000 contribution represents a significant effort to ease the financial burden facing thousands of veterans and their families, helping provide relief to those who have already given so much in service to their country.
For more information about the organization’s medical debt relief program, visit Undue Medical Debt.
