Do You Have Medical Bills You Cannot Pay?

Too many people associate bankruptcy with poor financial decisions, when in reality, many people run up against financial struggles due to unexpected circumstances that are beyond their control. One such circumstance is an illness or injury in the family that requires costly medical care. 

Families in Indiana face piles of medical bills on a regular basis, and if you have bills you know you will not be able to pay, you should not wait any longer to discuss your options. There are debt-relief tools that address medical debt, and one of these is filing for bankruptcy. To learn more about whether a bankruptcy case can help in your situation, contact an Indiana bankruptcy lawyer today.

The Costs of Medical Care in the United States

We all know that the costs of medical care just keep rising in the U.S. Statistics show that in a recent year, people in the United States paid $365.5 billion out of pocket for medical costs, and households accounted for one of the largest shares of that spending. If someone in your household suffers a medical condition, injury, or illness that requires treatment, the bills will add up very quickly. 

Many medical issues can require one or more of the following:

• Emergency treatment
• Doctor’s visits
• Specialist visits
• Hospitalization
• Surgeries
• Time in rehabilitation centers
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Medications
• Medical equipment
• Home health care
• Assisted living
• Home or vehicle adjustments

In 2020, many families have experienced the costs associated with one or more COVID-19 diagnoses in the household. Some people needed extended treatment in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), including respirator treatment and other lengthy, invasive treatments. One 70-year-old COVID-19 patient received a 181-page bill for his treatment, the costs of which totaled $1.1 million. For most people, this type of debt is insurmountable. 

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Might Help

If you are weighed down by medical bills and do not see yourself making any headway without putting your other needs in jeopardy, discuss how Chapter 7 bankruptcy works with an experienced attorney. Bankruptcy can help with many aspects of this situation, including:

• Stopping collection letters and calls
• Preventing collectors from reporting nonpayment to the credit bureaus
• Halt any lawsuits filed to collect on medical debts
• Discharge your medical bills, among other unsecured debts

A discharge of medical debt means that you no longer have the legal obligation to pay those bills. You can move forward without this crushing debt. 

In addition, medical issues can cause many other financial problems due to the inability to work and other complications. Filing for bankruptcy can take care of many other debts that you have accrued, as well, such as credit cards, past due rent and utilities, personal loans, and more. 

Schedule a Meeting with an Indiana Bankruptcy Attorney

Medical bills do not have to derail your financial life. There are options, such as bankruptcy, that can help you move forward and recover from your injuries without worrying about your debt. To learn how the office of bankruptcy lawyers Whitten & Whitten can help, please contact us online today.