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Medical Debt in California: As Permanent Solutions Take Root, Blacks Remain Hardest Hit

On June 26, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $5 million pilot program to eliminate up to $500 million in medical debt owed by an estimated 150,000 residents. The funds will be used for an agreement with Undue Medical Debt, a non-profit organization that buys unpaid debt at a fraction of its original cost and absolves it. The effort is expected to launch later this year. The initiative, authored by Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Janice Hahn, intends to eventually buy a total of $2.9 billion in medical debt, impacting some 800,000 L.A. County residents.

Published

1 year ago

July 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Russell Stiger, California Black Media.

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

On June 11, Vice President Kamala Harris and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director (CFPB) Rohit Chopra announced that the Biden administration has established a new federal rule that removes medical debt from the credit reports of nearly 15 million Americans. The rule also bans reporting agencies from factoring that debt into credit scores.

“We are making it so that medical debt cannot be used against you when you apply for a car loan, a home loan, or a small-business loan,” said the Vice President.

“Millions of Americans will see an increase in their credit score, on average, of 20 points, which will mean every year an estimated 22,000 more American families will be approved for a mortgage and able to buy a home,” she added.

The federal government and Los Angeles County are not alone in trying to find permanent solutions to the worrisome problem of medical debt. Policymakers and advocates in California and around the country have been proposing a range of solutions to address the escalating problem of medical debt, which burdens people at all income levels, but falls especially hard on middle-class Black people.

In 2020, nearly 23.5% of Americans earning between $50,000 and $100,000 had medical debt that they could not afford to pay according to a study by Third Way, a Washington-D.C.-based think tank.

For African Americans, the numbers are particularly concerning. About 38% of Black Americans have accrued medical debt they can’t afford to pay.

“Medical debt is more than a financial burden; it is a profound health crisis that disproportionately impacts Black Californians, stripping them of economic security and mental peace, perpetuating a cycle of economic insecurity and health disparities in communities already vulnerable,” states Kellie Todd Griffin, President & CEO of California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute.

Why do Black people have so much more medical debt than their White peers? Researchers from the National Consumer Law Center point to both the racial wealth gap and the racial health gap. In their 2022 report on medical debt, they found that “racial inequality underlies these disparities in medical debt.” Without equal opportunities to earn, save and build wealth through homeownership, Black people are less able to pay their medical bills, which leaves them unable to get medical care. This leads to a spiral of debt and poor health.”

According to the California Reparations Report, in 2019, the median African American household had a net worth of $24,100 as compared to the median net worth of white households of $188,200.

According to the report, “This wealth gap persists regardless of education level and family structure.”

Consider the case of Bethany Harris, a Black, middle-class resident of San Diego.

When excruciating back pain drove Harris to seek medical attention, she had no idea that doctors would admit her and recommend gallbladder surgery. She ended up spending three days in the hospital.

Despite having a stable professional job and employer-provided health, Harris was shocked to receive a $4,500 co-pay for her initial care and tests. A year later, the surgery added another $6,500 in co-pay responsibility.

“The co-pay is ridiculous,” Harris told California Black Media. I have been spending all this money out of my paycheck for 20 years for insurance. I barely use it outside of annual physicals and eyeglasses. It’s crazy, there is no way I can afford this stuff.”

For middle-class Black Californians like Harris, their income level often disqualifies them from most institutional discounts, government financial assistance, and nonprofit assistance.

Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network (CBHN), told California Black Media, “People with medical debt absolutely have rights.”

“California requires hospitals to provide financial aid to patients.” Download your hospital’s financial aid policy. You can get the policies and applications in the state on the California Department of Health Access and Information (HCAI) website.”

Dr. Naman Shah is a family physician and epidemiologist at the LA Department of Public Health, where he is Director for the Division of Medical and Dental Affairs.

Shah mentioned some of the other pitfalls that can plunge individuals further into debt, including medical credit cards and dubious or unclear billing methods employed by some hospitals. In addition, debt collections agencies will apply unscrupulous methods and, according to a study by ProPublica, disproportionately target Black communities.

A range of policies and programs to address medical debt are in motion across the country and here in California. In January 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams approved $18 million to purchase the medical debt of 500,000 New Yorkers, saving them up to $2 billion.

In March, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senator Monique Limón (D- Santa Barbara), and a coalition of prominent consumer advocacy organizations unveiled Senate Bill 1061 (SB 1061), legislation seeking to protect the financial security of Californians by prohibiting medical debt from being listed on credit reports.

Before Harris announced the White House rule, U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT.) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR.) and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) introduced legislation in May to cancel some $220 billion in medical debt owed by Americans across the country.

“This is the United States of America, the richest country in the history of the world. People in our country should not be going bankrupt because they got cancer and could not afford to pay their medical bills,” said Sanders.  “The time has come to cancel all medical debt and guarantee health care to all as a human right, not a privilege.”

This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates and patients.

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IN MEMORIAM: Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Dies at 74

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

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First 5 Alameda County Distributes Over $8 Million in First Wave of Critical Relief Funds for Historically Underpaid Caregivers

“Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are lifelines for so many children and families in Alameda County,” said Kristin Spanos, CEO, First 5 Alameda County. “Yet, they often go unrecognized and undercompensated for their labor and ability to give individualized, culturally connected care. At First 5, we support the conditions that allow families to thrive, and getting this money into the hands of these caregivers and families at a time of heightened financial stress for parents is part of that commitment.”

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Costco. Courtesy image.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers Can Now Opt Into $4,000 Grants to Help Bolster Economic Stability and Strengthen Early Learning Experiences

By Post Staff

Today, First 5 Alameda County announced the distribution of $4,000 relief grants to more than 2,000 Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, totaling over $8 million in the first round of funding. Over the full course of the funding initiative, First 5 Alameda County anticipates supporting over 3,000 FFN caregivers, who collectively care for an estimated 5,200 children across Alameda County. These grants are only a portion of the estimated $190 million being invested into expanding our early childcare system through direct caregiver relief to upcoming facilities, shelter, and long-term sustainability investments for providers fromMeasure C in its first year. This investment builds on the early rollout of Measure C and reflects a comprehensive, system-wide strategy to strengthen Alameda County’s early childhood ecosystem so families can rely on sustainable, accessible care,

These important caregivers provide child care in Alameda County to their relatives, friends, and neighbors. While public benefits continue to decrease for families, and inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, these grants provide direct economic support for FFN caregivers, whose wages have historically been very low or nonexistent, and very few of whom receive benefits. As families continue to face growing financial pressures, especially during the winter and holiday season, these grants will help these caregivers with living expenses such as rent, utilities, supplies, and food.

The funding for these relief grants comes from Measure C, a local voter-approved sales tax in Alameda County that invests in young children, their families, communities, providers, and caregivers. Within the first year of First 5’s 5-Year Plan for Measure C, in addition to the relief grants to informal FFN caregivers, other significant investments will benefit licensed child care providers. These investments include over $40 million in Early Care and Education (ECE) Emergency Grants, which have already flowed to nearly 800 center-based and family child care providers. As part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, preparations are also underway to distribute facilities grants early next year for child care providers who need to make urgent repairs or improvements, and to launch the Emergency Revolving Fund in Spring 2026 to support licensed child care providers in Alameda County who are at risk of closure.

The FFN Relief Grants recognize and support the essential work that an estimated 3,000 FFN caregivers provide to 5,200 children in Alameda County. There is still an opportunity to receive funds for FFN caregivers who have not yet received them.

In partnership with First 5 Alameda County, Child Care Payment Agencies play a critical role in identifying eligible caregivers and leading coordinated outreach efforts to ensure FFN caregivers are informed of and able to access these relief funds.FFN caregivers are eligible for the grant if they receive a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency, 4Cs of Alameda County, BANANAS, Hively, and Davis Street, and are currently caring for a child 12 years old or younger in Alameda County. Additionally, FFN caregivers who provided care for a child 12 years or younger at any time since April 1, 2025, but are no longer doing so, are also eligible for the funds. Eligible caregivers are being contacted by their Child Care Payment Agency on a rolling basis, beginning with those who provided care between April and July 2025.

“This money is coming to me at a critical time of heightened economic strain,” said Jill Morton, a caregiver in Oakland, California. “Since I am a non-licensed childcare provider, I didn’t think I was eligible for this financial support. I was relieved that this money can help pay my rent, purchase learning materials for the children as well as enhance childcare, buy groceries and take care of grandchildren.”

Eligible FFN caregivers who provided care at any time between April 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025, who haven’t yet opted into the process, are encouraged to check their mail and email for an eligibility letter. Those who have cared for a child after this period should expect to receive communications from their child care payment agency in the coming months. FFN caregivers with questions may also contact the agency they work with to receive child care payments, or the First 5 Alameda help desk, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, at 510-227-6964. The help desk will be closed 12/25/25 – 1/1/26. Additional grant payments will be made on a rolling basis as opt-ins are received by the four child care payment agencies in Alameda County.

Beginning in the second year of Measure C implementation, FFN caregivers who care for a child from birth to age five and receive an Alameda County subsidized voucher will get an additional $500 per month. This amounts to an annual increase of about $6,000 per child receiving a subsidy. Together with more Measure C funding expected to flow back into the community as part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, investments will continue to become available in the coming year for addressing the needs of childcare providers in Alameda County.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County builds the local childhood systems and supports needed to ensure our county’s youngest children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and life.

Our Mission

In partnership with the community, we support a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves the lives of children from birth to age five and their families.

Our Vision

Every child in Alameda County will have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential.

Learn more at www.first5alameda.org.

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2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Lori Wilson — Advocate for Equity, the Environment, and More

Her rise has also included several historic firsts: she is the only Black woman ever appointed to lead the influential Assembly Transportation Committee, and the first freshman legislator elected Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. She has also been a vocal advocate for vulnerable communities, becoming the first California legislator to publicly discuss being the parent of a transgender child — an act of visibility that has helped advanced representation at a time when political tensions related to social issues and culture have intensified.

Published

2 days ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City). File photo.

By Edward Henderson, California Black Media

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership.

She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties.

California Black Media spoke with Wilson about her successes and disappointments this year and her outlook for 2026.

What stands out as your most important achievement this year?

Getting SB 237 passed in the Assembly. I had the opportunity to co-lead a diverse workgroup of colleagues, spanning a wide range of ideological perspectives on environmental issues.

How did your leadership contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians this year?

The Black Caucus concentrated on the Road to Repair package and prioritized passing a crucial bill that remained incomplete during my time as chair, which establishes a process for identifying descendants of enslaved people for benefit eligibility.

What frustrated you the most this year?

The lack of progress made on getting Prop 4 funds allocated to socially disadvantaged farmers. This delay has real consequences. These farmers have been waiting for essential support that was promised. Watching the process stall, despite the clear need and clear intent of the voters, has been deeply frustrating and reinforces how much work remains to make our systems more responsive and equitable.

What inspired you the most this year?

The resilience of Californians persists despite the unprecedented attacks from the federal government. Watching people stay engaged, hopeful, and determined reminded me why this work matters and why we must continue to protect the rights of every community in our state.

What is one lesson you learned this year that will inform your decision-making next year?

As a legislator, I have the authority to demand answers to my questions — and accept nothing less. That clarity has strengthened my approach to oversight and accountability.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians are facing currently?

Affordability and access to quality educational opportunities.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2026?

Advance my legislative agenda despite a complex budget environment. The needs across our communities are real, and even in a tight fiscal year, I’m committed to moving forward policies that strengthen safety, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life for the people I represent.