ORLANDO, Fla. — Since COVID-19, area non-profits fighting for citizens carrying medical debt have been pushing Orange County officials to spend $4.5 million set aside from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Today their efforts paid off following the county’s decision on Tuesday to move that money towards two health care companies to help clear unpaid bills.

In a 5 to 2 decision, the Orange County Commissioners approved $4.5 million dollars, which will allow the hospitals to wipe off $450 million in existing medical debt.

It will cover more than 150,000 Orange County residents.

Sam Delgado of the Central Florida Jobs with Justice, an Orlando non-profit, is thrilled that officials gave the green light to debt relief.

“You know the impact of insurance companies really dictating how much they are going to pay or not pay. And so often the people who have medical debt are insured, but they will be underinsured. So, they still have to come out-of-pocket substantial amounts,” said Delgado.

Delgado held a press conference outside the Orange County Administration Building Tuesday morning expressing the importance of helping those that need debt relief.

One person attending the rally was Rebecca Opont who knows first-hand how unpaid doctor bills can crush people’s lives.

“It’s personal for me. It’s got to do with a very close family member who ended up passing away,” said Opont.

Opont lost her brother Roberto to high blood pressure in 2022 and believes his mounting debt put strain on his health.

“I had seen him the day he passed. He was in such bad shape that I was like, ‘let me take you to the emergency room.’ I have all this debt I accumulated. And I don’t want to go back there. He was trying to get back on his feet,” said Opont.

The county will work with a company called Undue Medical Debt, a group that coordinates with both AdventHealth and Orlando Health to review the debt that needs to be forgiven.

Debt relief could begin by the end of this year.