Financial Drains

While we must always be attentive to the income side of the financial stability equation, we must also watch out for financial drains and create policies to protect Hoosiers from these resource-depleting sources. Our policy work in this area includes: 

  • Payday Lending
  • Student Loans
  • Debt Collections
  • Medical Debt

Featured Publications

Financial DrainFinancial Drain: Payday Lenders Extract Millions from Hoosier Communities

This update on our 2019 report shows that payday lenders drain over $29 million in finance charges from Hoosier borrowers annually on loans that average $386. Effective January 2023, the maximum payday loan increased from $605 to $715, and lenders can charge rates as high as 391% Annual Percentage Rate (APR). As the report shows, Indiana saw a precipitous drop in loan volume during 2020, likely due to robust federal support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the expiration of important federal supports such as the expanded Child Tax Credit, additional unemployment insurance, and rental assistance, payday loan volumes are trending toward their pre-pandemic levels. | REPORT

Medical Debt Report

Medical Debt in Indiana

Hoosiers should be able to go to the doctor or purchase medicine without worrying about crushing medical bills. Unfortunately, the burden of medical debt is particularly acute in Indiana. This report discusses the health and social impacts of medical debt, explains how individuals become indebted, provides data about financially vulnerable Hoosiers and statewide trends, summarizes recent government and private action, and recommends policy solutions to address rising medical debt.  | REPORT

 

Other Publications

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