--- title: "How you can help erase millions in medical debt for veterans and first responders" date: "2026-11-06" modified: "2026-11-06" authors: - name: "Stephen Ruiz" job_title: "Editor, Writer" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/stephen.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/veterans/how-you-can-help-erase-millions-in-medical-debt-for-veterans/" categories: - "Veterans" tags: - "Veterans" - "Veterans Day" --- # How you can help erase millions in medical debt for veterans and first responders ![Cup of coffee]() *Retired soldier Robert Greene (left) and his brother, Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Greene, talk while enjoying a cup of coffee at an undisclosed location, March 6, 2009. (U.S. Army/Spc. Debralee P. Crankshaw)* Imagine if a simple act could help make up to $35 million in medical debt disappear for military veterans and first responders. How simple? It’s as easy as heading to the [Black Rifle Coffee Company’s website]() and making a purchase. Not a coffee drinker? Not a problem. There is another way. Check out the website of Born Primitive and buy some of its apparel or footwear. **Also Read:** [**Our huge list of Veterans Day 2026 freebies, discounts, and deals**]() Through Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Black Rifle and Born Primitive will donate 100% of online sales to Operation Debt of Gratitude. If the military-centric companies reach their goal of $35 million, that could relieve the qualifying medical debts that roughly 20,000 veterans and first responders face, [according to a news release](). ### $51 Million Erased So Far ![Bear Handlon]() *Bear Handlon, a former Navy SEAL, co-founded the apparel and footwear company Born Primitive in 2014. (Photo courtesy of Born Primitive)* Former Navy SEAL Lt. Bear Handlon co-founded Born Primitive in 2014 and serves as the company’s chief executive officer. “No matter where or how someone served, their service shouldn’t end in a battle with medical bills here at home,” Handlon [said in the release](). “No one wakes up and just decides to have medical debt. It is usually an unforeseen life event that can have devastating consequences.” Operation Debt of Gratitude started Friday, November 6, so this is a six-day challenge. That equates to an average of more than $5.8 million in online sales daily if they are to hit the $35 million mark. (In-store and retail purchases don’t count.) It’s certainly doable, however. Last year—the first year that Born Primitive partnered with Black Rifle Coffee for this initiative—they established an objective of eliminating $25 million in veterans’ medical debt. They wound up reaching $35 million. Born Primitive began Operation Debt of Gratitude in 2024, when it erased $11 million in health-care-related debt. Counting $5 million more raised in June, Operation Debt of Gratitude has wiped out $51 million in medical debt before this Veterans Day campaign. This is the first year that some proceeds will help out first responders. Becoming part of Operation Debt of Gratitude seemed natural for Black Rifle Coffee. Since former Green Beret Evan Hafer helped start the company in 2014, it committed to helping out service members, veterans, and first responders through sales of its products. “Our veterans and first responders have spent their lives showing up for others," said Mat Best, co-founder and chief creative officer of Black Rifle Coffee. "We believe it's important to show up for them too. "Supporting this community has always been about more than words, and our customers are a big part of making that possible. Every day, they’re helping us turn our mission into meaningful impact for the people who’ve served.” Donations are also being accepted directly to [operationdebtofgratitude.org](), with every dollar given knocking out $50 in qualifying medical debt. ### “Medical Debt Doesn’t Just Sit on a Credit Report” ![Medical debt]() *The weight of a large medical debt is not only financially stressful. It is an emotional struggle. (Shutterstock)* For Operation Debt of Gratitude, there is no application process for veterans and first responders. [ForgiveCo]() will independently identify and confirm the legitimacy of those with qualifying medical debt. ForgiveCo will then buy the debt and permanently erase it, according to Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee’s news release. The veteran or first responder will receive a letter, informing them of that action. Tears of joy and relief almost certainly will follow. “Each year, we hear from veterans who tell us that the letter arrived at their lowest moment and gave them a reason to keep going,” ForgiveCo President Erik Antico [said in the release](). “Medical debt doesn’t just sit on a credit report. It follows people into every decision they make about their health, their families, and their futures.” National Debt Relief—a for-profit, financial services company—polled about a thousand veterans age 21 and older. It [released its findings]() in May 2025, and what it found was sobering, although not exactly shocking: - About 30% of veterans are saddled with some form of medical debt. - 35% of veterans with mounting medical bills are more likely “to feel afraid, overwhelmed, or confused.” - Veterans with medical debt are likely behind in payments in other areas of their lives. For the survey, 90% of respondents admitted they faced some sort of debt. It also discovered that 91% of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder made their condition worse. ### “You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone Anymore” ![Woman holds credit card]() *Only online purchases on Born Primitive's and Black Rifle Coffee Company's websites will go toward Operation Debt of Gratitude. In-store and retail purchases don't count. (Shutterstock)* The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates Americans face roughly $220 billion in medical debt. Erasing up to $35 million for those who served their country or community (or both) is a very small part of that, but it’s not nothing. And if buying some coffee or clothes makes someone else’s life a little less stressful, then that qualifies as a great day. The gesture won’t go unappreciated. Just ask Mara C., an Army veteran and Gold Star spouse. Operation Debt of Gratitude erased more than $340,000 in medical debt for Mara last year. “I don’t think I can ever fully put into words what that moment did for me,” she said. “It wasn’t just financial. It was like someone reached into the exhaustion I’d been carrying and said, ‘You don’t have to carry this alone anymore.” For more information on the initiative, please go to [operationdebtofgratitude.org](). **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **•** [**Behind the scenes at West Point, and with The Old Guard—Jason Kelce hosts ‘Salute to Service’**]() **•** [**The veterans fighting military sexual assault as a Shield of Sisters**]() **•** [**Documentary captures veterans’ historic journey carrying the flag across the US**]() ## Author Stephen Ruiz is an editor and writer at We Are The Mighty. His writing revolves mostly around military history and sports stories, but it can branch into other areas. Stephen has more than 35 years of journalism experience. His career began with stints at The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland, Florida, and The Kansas City Star in Missouri, but most of his time was spent on the copy desk at the Orlando Sentinel. After accepting a buyout from the Sentinel in 2020, Stephen worked at Military.com for 4½ years as a content editor and writer. He joined the We Are The Mighty staff in December 2025. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() ## More - [A new veterans bill includes Major Richard Star Act but cuts benefits for 1.5 million to fund it]() - [How Black Rifle Coffee Company became a multi-million dollar business]() - [This Star Spangled Banner is the most incredible ‘MERICA thing you’ll ever hear or see]() - [Celebrate Veterans Day by supporting these 10 veteran-owned businesses]() - [Strangers on GoFundMe raise nearly $2 million to help a Vietnam vet retire]() - [How technical training can help veterans find careers they love]() - [Why this VC has invested $80 million in veteran-owned companies]() - [Our huge list of Veterans Day 2026 freebies, discounts, and deals]()