Getty ImagesThe share of people with medical debt in collections that shows up in their credit reports has fallen in the past decade. Colorado had no medical debt in collections in 2023 after it banned credit bureaus from including medical debt on credit reports. The independent government agency estimates the rule would remove up to $49 billion in medical debts from credit reports. "We find that people who have medical debt end up fighting all sorts of other debt," Rae said. About $7 billion in medical debt to be canceledCertain states, cities and counties are canceling about $7 billion in medical debt through the American Rescue Plan Act, federal legislation that was enacted in 2021.

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Persons: Breno Braga, Matthew Rae, We've, Rae, Probal Rashid, Lightrocket, Kamala Harris, Stefani Reynolds Organizations: Urban Institute, D.C, Consumers, Urban Institute . West, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Medicare, Washington , D.C, American, White, Eisenhower, AFP, Getty Locations: Washington, Urban Institute . West Virginia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Minnesota, Hawaii, Vermont, Washington ,