Local business owner, group pays off $1.8M of medical debt for 1,000 families

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Local Suwanee business owners Paul Hoyt and his wife Brandi partnered with RIP Medical Debt to relieve over $1.8 million in past due medical debts for Forsyth and Gwinnett County families who are unable to pay them.

They have purchased the past due accounts of 998 families that will be forgiven.

“Families in our own North Atlanta communities are pushed to bankruptcy because of medical issues and bills. They’ve had this medical debt hanging over their heads. For many of them, it’s hurt their credit, forced them closer to bankruptcy, and added so much stress to their lives,” Hoyt said.

Hoyt said he wanted the gift to be a no-strings-attached gift.

“We don't want anything from them - we want something for them; we hope it will give these families more freedom to enjoy the life they've been given,” Hoyt said.

The Hoyts are the owners of online-based watch company, Connoisseur of Time, which sells their large, high-end, curated collection of vintage watches and pre-owned luxury watches through their website.

RIP Medical Debt purchases past due accounts for Americans most burdened by un-payable medical debts. These are purchased in large, bundled portfolios for a fraction of each debt’s face value. Mr. Hoyt, who lives on the Forsyth County border, asked RIP Medical Debt to purchase all qualifying debt in Forsyth County and in the four closest zip codes in north and central Gwinnett.

Those benefiting from the relief will receive a branded, yellow RIP envelope, which is expected to land this week or next week; they advise residents to not throw these away should they receive one. RIP can unfortunately not relieve medical debts for specific individuals by request at this time.

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