Giving Tuesday: How Buying a Dental Plan Helps Someone in Need

Updated:12/31/19

Millions of Americans find themselves in debt every year due to medical problems—a fact that becomes all the more troubling around the holidays.

That’s why, starting Tuesday, November 20th—two days before Thanksgiving—we are excited to launch a new 1Dental campaign to help forgive medical debt—and you can be a part of it!

For every annual or multi-year dental plan purchased November 20th through December 4th, we will forgive $100 of medical debt for those in need, in partnership with the non-profit organization RIP Medical Debt.

Which States Have the Most Medical Debt?

Source: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/#challenge

In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that $1 trillion of medical debt is owed by Americans, accumulated over the last decade. Of that, the following states have the most medical debt in the United States:

Help us lift the burden of medical debt on families this holiday with your dental plan purchase.

Who Is RIP Medical Debt?

RIP Medical Debt is a non-profit charity that acts as a debt collector for health agencies, but instead of turning around and collecting on that debt from the patients, they forgive the medical debt by paying off the expenses at a lower cost—for pennies on the dollar.

For this campaign, every 1Dental plan purchased through December 4th allows us to donate to RIP Medical Debt. These donations will forgive $100 in medical debt per plan bought. Members must remain on their plan for 30 days without cancelling for the donation to be made.

To date, RIP has abolished $150,023,000 in crippling medical debt and counting… This debt is removed from credit reports and can no longer be collected. RIP Medical Debt notifies recipients with yellow abolishment letters in the mail.

The charity was founded in 2014 by two former collections industry executives – Craig Antico & Jerry Ashton. Several companies and foundations have partnered with RIP Medical Debt to help this cause, including NBCUniversal, TransUnion, Melvin Brewing and celebrity night show host John Oliver.

Why Forgive Medical Debt?

We may not be able to fix healthcare, but we can make a difference with those who have been hit the hardest. That’s why with every dental plan we sell this week, we can relieve $100 of medical debt for those who can’t afford it. 

In the U.S., 1 in 5 people struggle to pay their medical debt — which also causes 60% of all bankruptcies in America.

No one should be drowning in debt just because they are sick or hurt. Their sole focus should be on getting better.

Our mission, as a company, is to build up people—our members and our employees. Now we have a new initiative: “Building up people and tearing down debt one dental plan at a time.”

Can This Help with My Own Medical Debt?

RIP Medical Debt buys and forgives “portfolios” of medical debt they acquire from healthcare providers and the secondary debt market. They are not yet able to handpick and forgive personal medical debt. However, they have said they are working on that.

The debt they choose to abolish has to match the following criteria:

1. Based on the portfolio purchased, the patient has to earn less than 2x the federal poverty level
2. Debts are 5 percent or more of annual income
3. Portfolio is facing insolvency—the debts are greater than the patient’s assets

Can I Benefit from a Discount Dental Plan?

Absolutely! Another way we hope to help fight this battle against medical debt is by continuing to offer our discount dental plans. With our low membership costs, you pay a minimal amount for your plan while getting access to significant discounts and savings at the dental office.

Source: https://www.1dental.com/blog/2017/05/31/how-discount-dental-plans-can-work-with-your-budget/

Dental work is expensive enough without having to also pay high premiums every month just for your plan. See how much you can save with a discount dental plan. You’ll benefit from affordable dental care at the dentist and not have to worry about going into debt over the care you need. Find out more about discount dental plans and how they can help your family’s budget.