Illinois will erase $72 million in medical debt for over 52,000 residents, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday. Funding from the state’s Medical Debt Relief Pilot Program is the first part of an effort to erase $1 billion in medical debt across Illinois.

More than $72 million worth of debt has been forgiven as part of the governor's plan to ultimately cancel $1 billion in medical debt for Illinoisans.

In all, St. Paul will spend $1.1 million, funded by the American Rescue Plan, to erase $110 million of medical debt city wide. But it's stories like Myers that motivate St. Paul and state leaders to do more. "There's no reason why this should stop at St. Paul," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said.

By using federal American Rescue Plan funds, the city paired with the nonprofit, Undue Medical Debt, and M Health Fairview to wipe out $40 million in medical obligations. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter says the plan is aimed at giving support to debt-strapped residents.

More than 32,000 St. Paul residents will soon receive letters telling them their unpaid doctor's bills are no longer due. Why it matters: It's not a scam. It's the first round of a city-backed effort to eliminate $100 million in medical debt for unsuspecting community members — no application or action required.

The city of St. Paul has announced that it will eliminate $100 million in unpaid medical debt for its residents, and those being offered relief will soon receive notices, as they don’t have to apply.