GoFundMe has evolved from a crowdfunding platform for personal dreams and aspirations to a go-to platform for patients seeking financial assistance for medical bills. The number of campaigns related to medical causes on GoFundMe has increased significantly over the years, with more than 200,000 campaigns in 2020 alone. Patients, especially children with conditions like spinal muscular atrophy, are turning to crowdfunding to cover the exorbitant costs of treatments. What is concerning is that relying on crowdfunding for medical expenses has become normalized, with some patient advocates and hospital financial aid officers recommending it as an alternative to collections. GoFundMe acknowledges the reliance on its platform for medical expenses but does not disclose the exact proportion of medically related campaigns. However, it is estimated that about a third of the funds raised on the site are related to illness or injury costs. The reliance on crowdfunding perpetuates socioeconomic disparities in healthcare, as campaigns from famous individuals or those with wealthy networks tend to be more successful. Despite its noble intentions, GoFundMe campaigns often fall short of their goals, leaving patients with inadequate funds to cover their medical expenses. The CEO of GoFundMe has expressed a desire for “medical” not to be a category on the platform, emphasizing that meaningful public policy is needed to address the systemic problems in the healthcare system.
California Healthline Reports GoFundMe Now Serves as a Vital Health Care Resource
