He plans to forgive between $10,000 and $20,000 of student loans. Could this federal approach to debt relief ever be applied to another major financial burden: medical debt?
| Headlines for a healthier you | | | Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editorial Director | | | | Could Medical Debt Ever Be Relieved Like Student Debt? |  | Last month, the Biden Administration announced plans to forgive between $10,000 and $20,000 of student loans depending on a borrower's income level and loan type. Could this federal approach to debt relief ever be applied to another major financial burden: medical debt?
It's unlikely. That's largely because medical debt is not owed to the federal government the way federal student loan debt is. People pay medical bills to thousands of separate hospitals, doctors, and other providers across the country. Even people with public insurance like Medicare or Medicaid pay out-of-pocket costs to providers, rather than the government. To offer relief, the government would have to work with each medical provider and institution. | | Know More | | There are exceptions. Under the Veteran's Affairs (VA) system, the government owns medical facilities and employs providers. This means offering debt relief would be a fairly streamlined process. | | Feel Better | | As COVID-19 demonstrated, financial relief from the federal government is always possible in some capacity. Recent examples include COVID stimulus checks and the additional child tax credits distributed in 2021. | | |  | What Else Should You Know | | | The White House's free COVID-19 test kit program ended on Friday due to a lack of congressional funding. While you won't be able to order free rapid tests from the government website for the foreseeable future, there are still several ways to get low- or no-cost tests. And if you have insurance, your provider is still obligated to comp up to eight tests per month. | | | | | | A study in Israel found that Paxlovid may not reduce the risks of COVID-related hospitalization and death in people younger than 65. But don't count it out yet. Experts say the antiviral can still reduce the duration of illness in people of all ages. | | | | |  | In Other News | | - Is Washing Your Face With Bar Soap Really That Bad? Byrdie
- Why You Should Try Plastic-Free Dental Floss. Treehugger
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