In many cases, Dallas-area residents don’t file for bankruptcy because they are irresponsible with credit cards or late paying bills. Medical debt is one of the most common reasons that people file for bankruptcy. One unexpected injury or illness can lead to incredibly expensive medical bills and devastating debt. If you’re struggling with overwhelming debt because of medical bills, our experienced bankruptcy attorneys here at Rubin & Associates can help find a solution.
Bankruptcy can help with medical debt
Bankruptcy laws were created to help hard-working Americans who have hit a bump in the road start over with a clean slate. When you receive treatment at a hospital or healthcare provider, you enter into an agreement to pay any and all fees that are assessed for your treatment and care. Your health insurance provider will pay a portion of the fees, but you are responsible for any remaining amounts – or if insurance doesn’t pay the bill, you are responsible for the entire amount.
Medical bills are unsecured debt, just like credit cards, and can be discharged during bankruptcy proceedings. Our bankruptcy attorneys are some of the most experienced in the Dallas area, and we can help you reduce or entirely eliminate your unpaid medical debt and give you a fresh start.
Our clients are often surprised to hear that most people who file for bankruptcy because of medical bills have health insurance. Unfortunately, medical costs can skyrocket quickly. If your treatment includes experimental drugs, many times your insurance will not cover the cost. Accidents often require multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and long-term care – and most insurance carriers will place limits on coverage.
Once the medical debt piles up, it’s easy to fall behind on other bills – then paying for essentials like your mortgage and food becomes difficult. If your debt spirals out of control, bankruptcy might be your best option. Call us at 214-760-7777 and we can walk you through your options.
Are there other options for medical debt besides bankruptcy?
Hospitals and doctors will allow you to set up payment plans, and they are always willing to work with you when you have large medical bills. In most cases, hospitals will not charge any interest for the first year, and as long as you do not fall behind on payments, you will not be sent to the collections department.
You can also fight with your health insurance provider. If you have huge bills due to your insurance denying coverage, you should always start with appealing their decision. Typically, it’s incredibly difficult to try to fight your insurance company. You are much better off with an experienced medical debt bankruptcy attorney representing you.
How will bankruptcy help with my medical bills?
Whether you are filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, you will have options for erasing your medical debt. Your income must be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be able to discharge all of your medical debt, or a large portion of the debt. You will then be able to include the remaining amount in your Chapter 13 repayment plan.
Our attorneys can help you understand your options so you can make the right decision about how to deal with your medical debt. We’ll always explain every option – we won’t recommend bankruptcy if there are better options available to you.
Let Rubin & Associates help with your medical bankruptcy case
Our team of experienced bankruptcy attorneys have helped hundreds of Dallas area get a fresh start after unexpected medical bills cause their debt to spiral out of control. An unexpected accident or illness is stressful enough without the worry of paying huge bills. We care about every client we work with, and we’ll always work hard to help give you a fresh start.
If you’re struggling with overwhelming medical bills, call us today at 214-760-7777 and schedule a free consultation. Our experienced bankruptcy lawyers will listen to your situation and explain all of your options. Let us help you start again with a clean slate.
