Former Navy SEAL on mission to erase $35M in medical debt for thousands of American heroes

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EXCLUSIVE: A former Navy SEAL is on a mission to erase up to $35 million in medical debt for thousands of American veterans and first responders this Veterans Day, revealing the financial struggles some face long after putting their lives on the line.

Bear Handlon, co-founder of veteran-owned apparel company Born Primitive, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that his company's third annual Operation Debt of Gratitude campaign is about reminding American heroes they haven't been forgotten.

"We feel that if people serve their country and put on the uniform and make those sacrifices, that they should be taken care of," Handlon said.

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Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company are pledging 100% of their online profits from Nov. 6 through Veterans Day toward medical debt relief for an estimated 20,000 veterans and first responders.

The initiative has already erased more than $50 million in medical bills for over 25,000 veterans since 2024, according to Handlon.

But one recent encounter left the former SEAL stunned.

Handlon said a friend who previously served as a Navy SEAL and now works as a U.S. marshal was nearly killed after being shot while serving a high-risk warrant and was subsequently left facing an $8,000 medical bill.

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"I'm talking to a friend right now who was a former Navy SEAL and is now a U.S. marshal serving high-risk warrants, and he was shot serving a warrant, almost killed," Handlon said. "And I just spoke to him yesterday, he's got an $8,000 bill that they will not cover."

Handlon said the bill was directly related to the marshal's injuries sustained in the line of duty. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the billing dispute.

"I'm like, this is absolutely insane," Handlon said. "I mean, never in a million years did I think someone who was shot in the line of duty would ever have a bill ever again."

Handlon said he was contacting an Ohio lawmaker about the case and would pay the bill himself if necessary.

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He acknowledged that he is not an expert on healthcare coverage but said conversations with debt-relief recipients have revealed cases involving denied insurance claims and gaps in coverage.

"I think people have the misconception that if you're in the military you have free healthcare for life, that's not the case," he said.

Some veterans, Handlon explained, face collection calls and damaged credit while attempting to resolve medical bills.

"You know, a lot of times their wages are getting garnished. Their credit score goes in the t