What is the Top Reason for Bankruptcy?

Medical debt is the leading reason people in the United States file for bankruptcy. If you are unable to pay your medical debts and you are considering bankruptcy, arrange immediately to discuss your financial circumstances and options with a North Carolina medical debt attorney.

More than ninety percent of us in the United States are covered by some form of health insurance; nevertheless, medical debt is a persistent problem. For individuals and families with few assets and limited incomes, even a small unexpected medical bill may be unaffordable.

A hospital stay in North Carolina averages $2,573 per day, so it’s no surprise that so many file for bankruptcy due to medical debt. In 2022, twenty percent of adults in North Carolina had medical debt in collections. In some counties, that figure surpassed forty percent.

Along with the impact on a person’s finances, medical debt may have serious consequences for someone’s health. According to researchers, almost one in three adults in the United States has delayed important medical treatment because of concerns regarding medical debt.

How Can You Deal With Medical Debts?

If you’re unable to pay your medical bills, your first step is making certain that you’re not receiving duplicate bills. In some cases, medical consumers are charged mistakenly – or unlawfully – for debts they do not owe.

If a debt purchasing company is billing you, it’s possible that you owe the company nothing, but you will need to discuss the details with a North Carolina debt resolution attorney.

However, if the medical bills you receive are your own and legitimate, bankruptcy is not necessarily the only option. Sometimes, you can negotiate a reasonable debt payment schedule with your medical providers.

When Should You Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney?

If you’re running out of options for resolving medical debt, you should contact a bankruptcy attorney to analyze your debts, assets, properties, and income. Bankruptcy is genuinely your last resort for dealing with debt, and it entails some temporary consequences.

If you let your debts pile up and you fail to act, you may eventually have no choice other than bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy will prevent your creditors from imposing a garnishment on your wages or placing liens on your property while your bankruptcy petition is pending.

Do You Have Other Options?

For those whose credit is good, it may be possible to resolve medical debts by negotiating for a payment arrangement you can afford. Many medical providers and hospitals discount or even cancel bills for patients who pay cash and/or carry no health insurance.

Most hospitals offer assistance programs. A hospital’s financial assistance counselor can explain how assistance is provided and determine if you are eligible.

If you are unable to resolve a medical debt, your credit may take a nosedive because that debt will probably appear on your credit report. However, if you file for bankruptcy before a creditor takes action against you, bankruptcy can erase that medical debt.

What Bankruptcy Does and Does Not Do

Some debts cannot be erased by filing for bankruptcy. These are “non-dischargeable” debts such as student loan payments, some back taxes, alimony and child support, and payments owed to or ordered by a court such as criminal restitution.

After analyzing your debts, assets, properties, and income, a North Carolina medical debt attorney will determine if bankruptcy is your best option and if you should file a “Chapter 13” bankruptcy or a “Chapter 7” bankruptcy. (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are chapters of U.S. Code Title 11, the federal bankruptcy laws.)

If you don’t qualify for Chapter 7, or if you would lose assets in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may choose a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. With this option, you pay a portion of your debt and in some situation none during the bankruptcy period, and what’s left of your qualifying debt will be discharged.

What Else Does Bankruptcy Require?

Whether you file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, you’ll need advice and guidance from a North Carolina debt resolution attorney who has thoroughly reviewed your financial situation. You will also have to take credit counseling and debt management courses. These are usually online or by phone, not difficult and take less than 60-90 minutes.

Federal law requires those who file for bankruptcy to attend a credit counseling class. You must complete the course no more than 180 days before your bankruptcy filing and include your certificate of completion when you submit your bankruptcy paperwork to the court.

You must also attend a debt management course after you file for bankruptcy. You cannot obtain a bankruptcy discharge until you have completed the debt management course. Both bankruptcy courses are available in person, online, and by phone.

Now is the Time to Resolve Medical Debt

Bankruptcy doesn’t leave you penniless. Most who file for bankruptcy keep their homes and vehicles and other assets. After the bankruptcy period, you may begin to reestablish your credit immediately. With the right bankruptcy lawyer, you have nothing to fear.

Even if you’ve worked hard for decades to avoid acquiring debt, your medical debts could pile up through no fault of your own. If this happens to you, contact a North Carolina bankruptcy attorney at once to find out more or to initiate the bankruptcy process. If you struggle with medical debt, the time to resolve that debt is now.

Meet the Debt Resolution Team at Gillespie & Murphy

Since 1991, the award-winning debt resolution and bankruptcy attorneys at Gillespie & Murphy have been helping families and individuals get out of debt. We’ve built a reputation for legal distinction and outstanding client service.

If your medical debt is overwhelming you, call Gillespie & Murphy now at 252-659-5045. We will review your debt resolution options, explain your rights, and if it’s appropriate, we’ll help you file your bankruptcy petition and understand the bankruptcy requirements.

With over three decades of debt resolution and bankruptcy experience, we can help you resolve the most challenging debt situations. To learn more about resolving your medical debts – or to begin resolving those debts now – contact Gillespie & Murphy by calling 252-659-5045. Our law offices are conveniently located throughout Eastern North Carolina.