In a major step toward financial relief and healthcare equity, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has unveiled a new initiative aimed at cancelling medical debts for over 75,000 working-class New Yorkers. The program, valued at more than $2 billion, is expected to benefit roughly half a million residents across the city.
The initiative targets individuals burdened by unpaid hospital bills — a financial strain that has long trapped many families in cycles of poverty and anxiety. The city will partner with nonprofit organizations and healthcare providers to identify eligible cases and erase qualifying debts. Officials emphasize that this effort will not only ease existing burdens but also help prevent future debt accumulation through education and proactive financial support.
As part of the rollout, eight new Financial Empowerment Centers have been established within public hospitals. These centers will offer residents one-on-one counseling to manage expenses, understand medical billing, and access available assistance programs.
Mayor Adams described the program as a “lifeline for hard-working New Yorkers who’ve faced impossible choices between paying medical bills and meeting basic needs.” He added that eliminating medical debt represents a broader commitment to “restoring financial dignity and building a fairer city for all.”
Community advocates and healthcare professionals have widely praised the move, calling it a landmark policy that could serve as a model for other U.S. cities facing similar healthcare affordability challenges.
