As the cost of health care continues to be a nationwide issue, an Alexandria couple has launched a fundraiser to help regional residents burdened by medical debt.
Scott and Kara Pitek introduced the campaign through the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, which was established by former debt collectors to purchase and eliminate medical debt. Funds raised through the campaign will help residents facing medical debt in the City of Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William counties.
Kara Pitek, a consultant, told ALXnow that medical debt often results from emergencies and ongoing treatments. In Northern Virginia, she said it’s “a serious but often invisible problem,” especially for families stretched by costs of housing, child and elder care.
“Even relatively modest medical bills can follow people for years, creating ongoing stress and limiting the ability to save, move, or regain financial footing after a health crisis,” she said.
The Northern Virginia campaign has an initial goal of raising $15,000, which could eliminate $1.5 million in debt. According to Pitek, Undue Medical Debt purchases debts often at large discounts in bundled portfolios for forgiveness.
That allows the nonprofit to provide about $100 in medical debt relief for every dollar purchased.
“The idea that a small local donation can erase a much larger amount of qualifying medical debt felt both practical and deeply human,” Pitek said.
Relief is focused on residents with lower incomes or medical bills that are disproportionately high for their income. Based on available data, Undue Medical Debt reported that residents in the four Northern Virginia localities collectively carry more than $150 million in medical debt. The nonprofit estimates just over $542,000 could wipe it out through strategic purchases.
Residents don’t apply for the relief and only find out when they receive a letter that their medical debt has been cleared.
“For many families, relief means less stress, more stability and the ability to focus on their health, work and kids, instead of a bill that never seems to shrink,” Pitek said. “When that financial burden is removed, the impact is immediate and psychological. It’s lifted weight, it’s breathing room, it’s a chance to stop making every decision through the lens of a growing bill. That’s what hope looks like.”
Even with organizations like Undue Medical Debt, Pitek says the longer-term solution is making medical debt “preventable and not inevitable.” She believes health insurance plans’ coverage needs to improve and for charity care, payment plans and financial assistance to become more accessible.
“Families can do everything right – carry insurance, seek care when they should – and still end up with bills they can’t manage because of high deductibles, surprise charges, or unclear pricing,” said Pitek. “Preventing medical debt starts with fixing those gaps: making costs more predictable and transparent, strengthening patient protections, and ensuring that coverage actually covers – especially during emergencies or serious illness.”
