Kentucky and Kansas residents are set to have a combined $284 million in medical debt erased through partnerships with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, adding to a growing list of states and health systems that have launched similar efforts in 2026.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order Sept. 15 that directs $2.5 million to Undue Medical Debt. The money will erase $250 million in medical debt for more than 130,000 Kentuckians, according to a Sept. 15 news release from the governor’s office. In the first phase, the first 46,000 qualified residents will have up to $100 million in debt erased.
In Kansas, nonprofit Somos Votantes Education Fund partnered with Undue Medical Debt to eliminate more than $33.9 million in medical debt for 21,490 residents, according to an Oct. 6 news release. This is the organization’s second round of relief. Its first round in 2025 erased more than $133 million in medical debt for more than 128,000 Nevada residents.
In both states, residents qualify if they owe medical debt equal to 5% or more of their annual income, or if they earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. No application is needed, and eligible residents will be notified by mail of which debts were erased. Kentucky’s letters were slated to begin going out the week after the Sept. 15 announcement. Kansas residents will receive envelopes from Undue Medical Debt the week of Oct. 19.
Earlier in 2026, Undue Medical Debt erased more than $1.1 billion in medical debt through partnerships with four states (California, Michigan, Connecticut and New Jersey) and Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health. The nonprofit buys qualifying debt in bulk and cancels it.
