More Orange County residents have had their medical debt eliminated, thanks to a county program that has wiped out more than half a billion in medical debt so far. In August 2024, Orange County commissioners agreed to set up the debt relief program, using $4.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Orange County is delaying its plan to use American Rescue Plan funds to pay off medical debt relief after commissioners questioned how recipients would be identified.

The Biden administration is pushing to prevent medical debt from being considered in most decisions made over whether someone qualifies to rent an apartment, buy a car or take on a mortgage.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt could be absorbed as Orange County leaders consider how to spend leftover federal aid from the American Rescue Plan.