2 Ithaca Women Erase Millions in Medical Bills for New Yorkers

Statistics show most bankruptcies are caused by enormous medical bills. More than 12-hundred New Yorkers who were burdened with mounting medical debts will get a break thanks to the efforts of two Ithaca women. It's a story sure to warm even the coldest heart.

In a story reported by the New York Times, Judith Jones and Carolyn Kenyon are members of a group supporting health care through the New York Health Act. Through member activity, they learned of the RIP Medical Debt program. The non-profit group buys up medical debt by the millions through donations from individuals.

The two ladies spent the summer raising funds with the goal of donating it to the program specifically to help New Yorkers saddled with huge medical bills. They collected $12, 500. With the RIP Medical Debt's ability to buy medical debt portfolios for cents on the dollar, they were able to retire $1.5 million in debt.

In the end, 1284 New Yorkers will no longer be in medical debt. Those individuals will have no idea their debt has been forgiven until a yellow envelope appears in their mailbox with all the details. Now that's a surprise waiting.

You can read more on the story and learn about the program at the New York Time's website.