The US shows India one approach to medical debt. Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit, buys unpaid medical bills cheaply and cancels them. It estimates that it will relieve $22.8 billion in medical debt for more than 16.6 million people with limited means in 2026. Its model suggests that every $1 donated can erase about $100 in medical debt. Indian philanthropists can emulate this model. There is also an alternative available: a healthcare payment system that complements insurance, covers preventive and post-treatment care, reduces out-of-pocket costs, and provides low-cost credit for expenses that insurance does not cover. Families should not increase their risks by delaying tests or specialist care because they cannot afford them.
