Medical Bankruptcy & Debt Lawyers

Debt is defined by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act as, “a consumer’s obligation to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance, or services that are for personal, family, or household purposes.”

This means anytime you sign a contract with the hospital or clinic to treat you, you agree to pay whatever your insurance company doesn’t cover. If your insurance company refuses to pay anything, you may be responsible. You have rights with medical debt to dispute it if you feel you were billed incorrectly.

One of the biggest causes of bankruptcy is medical debt. The sad part is, the majority of people that are forced into bankruptcy had medical insurance. Medical debt is known as “unsecured debt” and can be discharged during bankruptcy. However, bankruptcy is not the only option. Here are a few other strategies for dealing with medical debt.

Talk to the Hospital

Unlike other debt collectors, many hospitals and medical providers will work with you on a payment plan if you’re faced with steep medical bills and can’t pay them all at once. Create a monthly budget and work out how much you will be able to pay per month. Discuss this with your hospital’s financial department.

Many hospitals will not charge interest for the first year and will not send your bill to collections if you have a set payment plan. They may also give you a discount if you do not have insurance. Never underestimate the power of a phone call.

Fight the Insurance Company

If your debt is largely in part because of your insurance denying coverage, you can appeal their decision. This is difficult and may require the help of an attorney. If they still deny, you may be stuck with legal bills in addition to your medical bills.

There have been far too many instances of desperate people who encounter severe financial problems due to medical expenses. For example, a person may have an illness treated with an experimental drug or another type of treatment, and an insurer may not cover it as a result. In other cases, people have to undergo multiple surgeries or long-term physical therapy and their insurance simply runs out.

What’s even worse, if the person in ill health is the main wage earner, the family could quickly be in dire financial straits. If you are faced with having to pay for essentials such as food, clothing, and shelter or paying your medical bills, then filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may help you regain a sense of control over your finances.

Both options provide a way to eliminate medical debt – if you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must be under a certain income level. However, if you file for Chapter 13, you could still discharge a large amount of that debt. It’s extremely important that you speak with a professional so that you have all of the information you need to make the best choice possible.

Free Consultation With a Medical Debt and Bankruptcy Lawyer

Leinart Law Firm represents individuals and families, helping them get the legal help they need during some of the most difficult financial situations they face.

Our law firm has offices in Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas, and we’re ready to be your medical billing advocate and get you the financial help you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Schedule your free consultation by filling out the contact form at the top of the page. You can also email contact@leinartlaw.com or call our offices.

Call the Dallas Office: (469) 232-3328

Call the Fort Worth Office: (817) 426-3328