When Your Medical Debt Becomes Too Much
What Are Your Options?
When you are facing a medical emergency, the last thing on your mind is the financial implications of hospital stays, medical procedures and treatments. However, once the dust settles and the bills start coming in, you may find yourself facing another kind of crisis.
Can Medical Debt Be Discharged in Bankruptcy?
The short answer is yes; medical debt is considered non-priority unsecured debt and can be discharged in bankruptcy. While you cannot target medical debt in bankruptcy, this process can help lower payments or eliminate the debt altogether.
Understanding Bankruptcy
There are two main types of bankruptcy, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. While both types address large debt, the way they work is quite different.
With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court considers what you owe and what income and assets you must put toward your debt. With this route, you are likely to have to sell some of your belongings, including property or vehicles, to satisfy your debt. The whole process takes about six months, and in the end, your eligible debts are forgiven. Your credit report reflects the bankruptcy for a decade, making it difficult to get a mortgage, a car loan or a personal loan.
Chapter 13 assesses what you owe, your income, assets and comes up with a repayment plan to make the debt more manageable. In most cases, monthly payments do not exceed 15% of your income. This process can stretch out for years, and certain criteria must be met.
Other Options for Handling Medical Debt
Bankruptcy is an extreme measure that has long-lasting implications on your credit. Fortunately, there are other options for tackling medical debt.
Review Your Bills
Medical bills can be daunting, and if you are like most people, the number you focus on is the total amount you owe. However, auditing your bills and looking for errors such as double charges, fees for services not ordered nor received, can knock hundreds or thousands of dollars off the bill.
Negotiate Costs
In some cases, you may be able to work with your medical provider to get lower costs for services. Some providers have sliding fee schedules for income-qualifying patients, especially those who do not have health insurance.
Investigate Financial Assistance Options
Local agencies such as charities and Community Action Partnerships often have emergency assistance for income-qualifying individuals facing medical debt that they cannot pay.
Talk to Your Medical Provider
Some providers would rather work out an affordable payment plan than send the debt to collections or see it end up in bankruptcy.
Preventing Medical Debt with Nevada Insurance Enrollment
While you cannot always avoid a medical emergency, health insurance can help ensure that your medical bills do not become too much to handle. At Nevada Insurance Enrollment, our health insurance agents help you evaluate your health needs and budget and determine what policies are right for you.
Recent Posts
Comparing Medicare Advantage To Medicare Supplement
During the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), which is from October 15th through December 7th each year, many people may ask the question, “Do I want a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap)?”
Understanding Your New Health Insurance Plan
If you’ve recently enrolled in a health insurance plan, there are several things that you can do while you’re waiting for your coverage to begin. Being proactive while you’re waiting for coverage can ensure that you receive quality healthcare.
Telemedicine Benefits
Telemedicine puts healthcare within reach of those who would otherwise have a difficult time visiting a doctor. If you have a severe sinus infection, the last thing you want to do is spend the afternoon in the doctor’s office.
Search This Website
Most Popular Pages
By page visits (this month)
#1) Health Insurance Subsidy Chart
#2) Health Insurance
#3) Health Insurance WITH a Subsidy
#4) Insurance Blog
#5) Request a Quote
Top 5 Most Popular
By page visits (this month)
#1) Health Insurance Subsidy Chart
#2) Health Insurance
#3) Health Insurance WITH a Subsidy
#4) Insurance Blog Posts
#5) Request a Quote
Recent Posts
Short Term Health Insurance for Nevadans
Short-term health insurance is a special policy designed to provide coverage during times of transition when traditional health insurance coverage may be impractical or unavailable.
What is a Health Insurance Subsidy?
A “Subsidy” is a special tax credit that you can take to help lower the cost of your monthly health insurance premiums. If you qualify for a Health Insurance Subsidy, it’s kind of like getting a gift card from the Government to help pay your health insurance premium. This subsidy is sent directly to the insurance company, which pays a portion of your premium, and you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance.
Medicaid Basics To Know
Medicaid is a health insurance program administered by the state and federal government, to provide health coverage for those who meet income restrictions or have qualifying medical needs. Medicaid can also be used alongside other health insurance coverages such as private health insurance, Medicare, etc.
What is Tier Pricing With Prescription Medications?
Your health insurance company’s formulary is a list of all the different drugs that their plans cover. Within the formulary, there are drug tiers. These tiers determine the level of coverage your prescription drug plan offers for a specific type of medication.