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
What is Final Expense Insurance?
Final expense life insurance is usually sold to mature adults, usually around 45 – 85. The insurance policy is taken out with the idea of paying for a funeral, burial or cremation, and other related costs.
What is Defensive Driving?
Defensive driving is a strategy that helps drivers recognize potential hazards on the road and adapt to weather and traffic conditions and the unpredictability of other drivers. Learning defensive driving habits can help you stay safe behind the wheel.
Nevada Driving Laws for Seniors
Studies have shown that advancing age is associated with higher fatal crash rates. As is the case in most states, Nevada has a set of rules for older drivers to ensure their safety and the safety of everyone they share the road with.
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
Understanding Boat Insurance
Boat insurance provides coverage for various types of damage that you may otherwise be financially responsible for. Property coverage pays for damage to the boat due to incidents such as accidents, sinking, theft, vandalism or weather damage.
Water / Sewer Backup: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover It?
A standard homeowners insurance policy covers sudden and accidental water damage that comes from inside your home, such as a burst pipe or broken appliance. It also covers water damage that results from rainwater coming in through an opening caused by a named peril.
Is Raising the Speed Limit Worth the Risk?
While vehicles are safer than ever and roadways are engineered to prevent accidents, the fact is that traffic fatalities claim thousands of lives per year. Despite arguments that the majority of posted speed limits are outdated, and unrealistic, numerous crash tests show that higher speeds greatly increase a driver’s risk of serious injury or even death.
Friday Health Plans: Who Are They?
Late last year, Friday Health Plans announced that it was expanding to Nevada and would sell policies on Nevada Health Link, the state’s online Marketplace. These plans may be a good fit for you if you are working within a budget and really like the flexibility of seeing a specialist without having to get a referral from a primary doctor.