"Study Reveals Limited Impact of Medical Debt Relief Efforts on Low-Income Americans"

A study found that wiping out $169 million in medical debt for 83,401 people did not significantly improve their mental health or credit scores on average. The debt relief had no impact on financial distress or mental health, and only slightly increased credit scores. The results were unexpected and mirrored a previous study on cash transfers, suggesting that insufficient relief may raise feelings of distress. The study raises questions about the effectiveness of medical debt relief and its impact on recipients' well-being.