medical debt Archives - Page 4 of 10 - Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. Bankruptcy Attorneys

University of Virginia Health System Sues Patients, Putting Liens on Homes and Seizing Paychecks

Posted on September 12, 2019by Admin

Medical debt remains the leading cause of bankruptcy in America. Thousands of patients at University of Virginia Health Systems (UVA) have seen the devastating consequences of past due medical debt.

Over the course of six years ending in June 2018, the University of Virginia Health System sued former patients over 36,000 times for a sum of over $106 million. The hospital has seized wages and bank accounts of former patients and have put liens on homes and property. This information comes from a Kaiser Health News study, which reviewed UVA Health System’s court records, hospital files, and interviewed hospital officials, as well as former patients.

What Happens When You Fail to Pay a Hospital Bill?

Posted on September 10, 2019by Admin

Countless Americans struggle to pay for their medical expenses every year. It only takes one major medical crisis to set a person back thousands of dollars. If that person does not have adequate savings for emergency expenses, it can be very easy for that medical bill to turn up past-due and fall into collections. This situation is an all-too common occurrence for many Americans.

An estimated 43 million American consumers reportedly carry some amount of unpaid medical debt. It is also reported that half of all debt listed on American consumer credit reports is from medical expenses, according to a 2014 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) study.

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More Baby Boomers Filing for Bankruptcy, up 300% in Recent Years

Posted on August 23, 2019by Admin

More baby boomers are filing for bankruptcy than in previous generations, according to recent reports. Consumers over the age of 65 are reporting more debt now than ever before, and as a result, more of these individuals are filing for bankruptcy as a means of getting out from under this debt burden.

According to figures from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, the number of people over the age of 65 who have filed for bankruptcy has tripled since 1991. The study looked at 895 personal bankruptcy cases involving filers ranging in age from 19 to 92. What they found was more older Americans are filing for bankruptcy as a way to seek protection from creditors and protect their assets. In fact, the number of filers in this age group has increased anywhere between 200 and 300 percent since 1991.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief

This Common Life Event Doubles Your Chances of Filing for Bankruptcy

Posted on August 7, 2019by Admin

Medical debt is a common cause of consumer bankruptcy filings. Losing one’s health insurance, also puts individuals and families at an increased financial risk. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), when someone has an interruption in their health insurance coverage, this gap in coverage nearly doubles that person’s chances of filing for bankruptcy.

The ABI looked through figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for more than 12,500 individuals. Their findings revealed a “strong association” between losing insurance coverage and consumer bankruptcy filings. ABI narrowed down their research even further to look at 454 people between the years 2008 and 2014 with similar incomes and debt-to-income ratios, who all filed for bankruptcy in that span of time. While many of these bankruptcy filings were driven by health issues, job loss and divorce, a great majority of them had to do with the fact that the person or someone that depended on the insurance carrier did not have coverage at the time of their illness or injury.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Medical Expenses Lead to More Than 60 Percent of Personal Bankruptcy Filings

Posted on July 1, 2019by Admin

Many different factors play into why a person decides to file for bankruptcy. For many consumers, the cost of healthcare and staggering medical bills play a major part in why they file bankruptcy.

According to a recent report published by the American Journal of Public Health, 66.5 percent of all bankruptcies are related to medical debt, whether it be the cost of medical care or the time away from work required due to the injury or illness. The study reviewed court filings for a random sample of 910 Americans who filed for bankruptcy between the years 2013 and 2016. They found that 530,000 families file for bankruptcy annually due to either a medical issue or medical bills.

Medical bills often come at a completely unexpected time, which is a big reason why they play such a major role in personal bankruptcy. The cost of medical care is high enough as it is, and it only takes one major medical crisis to set someone back thousands of dollars. When a person is already living on a limited income to pay for basic living expenses, these unexpected medical bills can put him or her in a serious bind. If a major medical crisis also leads to the loss of a job or if the person is under-insured, the results can be even more devastating. Even if someone does have savings, one trip to the hospital could quickly deplete that account.

Medical expenses were not the only reason people filed for personal bankruptcy. The study also reported that 45 percent surveyed cited not being able to afford their mortgages as their reason for filing. Other factors also included student loan debt, a major life event, such as a divorce or job loss. Many consumers reported a combination of two or more of these factors as a leading cause of why they filed for bankruptcy.

Other factors that played a role in personal bankruptcy filings had to do with the location of the filer. The report showed that someone who lives in a larger, metropolitan area is more likely to fall behind on their basic living expenses when compared to someone else who lives in a more rural part of the country. Additionally, medical debt statistically is more common in certain areas of the country when compared to others.

The filer’s age and stage of life also plays a role the reason behind filing for bankruptcy. The number of bankruptcy filings for individuals between the ages of 18 and 54 declined between 1991 and 2016. However, bankruptcy filings have gone up for individuals over the age of 55. In fact, the number of individuals over the age of 65 who filed for bankruptcy have tripled since 1991. Many filers in this age group attributed the cost of healthcare as to why they filed for bankruptcy.

The good news is if medical debt does make up a large part of the total debt the filer is carrying, this category of debt is considered unsecured and can be discharged in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. Unsecured debt is debt that is not otherwise tied to an asset, including credit card and medical debt. Rather than struggle with paying medical bills for too long, a consumer who finds himself or herself in a troubling financial situation due to a medical crisis should consult with a bankruptcy attorney to see if bankruptcy is a good option for him or her.

How is Medical Debt Handled in Bankruptcy?

In bankruptcy, medical debt is treated the same as credit card debt. Medical bills are listed as general unsecured debt and can be easily wiped out in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Making the decision to file for bankruptcy is never an easy one. It can be difficult to get past some of the myths associated with filing for bankruptcy. Sometimes by waiting, an individual facing a lot of debt can find himself or herself in an even worse situation. Filing for bankruptcy can help protect valuable assets, including your home, car, IRA and social security. It will put an end to wage garnishment and any lawsuit being filed to collect on the debt, thanks to the protections of the automatic stay.

Those who have experienced illness or injury and found themselves overwhelmed with medical debt should contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney. In bankruptcy, medical bills are considered general unsecured debts just like credit cards. This means that medical bills do not receive priority treatment and can easily be discharged in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy laws were created to help people resolve overwhelming debt and gain a fresh financial start. Bankruptcy attorney Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/causes-personal-bankruptcy-medical-bills-mortgages-student-loan-debt-2019-6

Bankruptcy Law

How to Time Your Bankruptcy Filing

Posted on June 26, 2019by Admin

Deciding when to file for bankruptcy can be a complicated one. Many times, it makes sense to delay filing for bankruptcy, while other times it makes sense to file right away. In some situations, people are able to work out a plan to pay off their debt without having to file at all. If someone is struggling with making that determination, a bankruptcy attorney can help talk that person through his or her life situation and can help the individual decide when a good time would be for filing for bankruptcy.

Modifying a Mortgage

Bankruptcy is often used as a means of delaying foreclosure. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, a bankruptcy filing will often allow the person to catch up on past-due payments while continuing to make current ones. However, sometimes a mortgage modification may be all the filer needs to hold onto his or her home. If the person files too quickly, he or she may have a harder time obtaining a modification of the mortgage. In fact, once a bankruptcy case has been filed, many lenders will not even talk to the borrower in terms of negotiations over the mortgage. If the borrower is anticipating a mortgage modification, it may be best to wait before filing for bankruptcy.

Income Qualifications

If someone is wanting to pursue a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, he or she will need to pass the “means test” requirements set by the bankruptcy courts in Florida. If the filer’s income is too high, he or she will be prevented from pursuing a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy case. Not passing the means test does not necessarily mean the person cannot pursue any type of bankruptcy. The filer may still qualify for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, which requires him or her to repay a portion of the qualifying debts over a three to five-year period. The means test calculates the person’s income over a period of several months. Therefore, if the person’s income has dropped recently, he or she may still be able to qualify for Chapter 7 by holding off on filing for a few months.

Keeping Certain Property

Many times, the filer may have certain property that he or she would lose in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, such as an incoming tax refund. If the case is filed too soon, that tax refund may be liquidated and used to pay off certain debts. If the potential filer expects a large income tax refund, he or she may wish to hold off on filing for bankruptcy temporarily and use that money to pay for living expenses over the course of a few months before filing. However, make sure that the expenses being paid with this refund are for necessities and not luxury items. Otherwise the bankruptcy trustee may see the filer as trying to conceal or hide this income before filing. Also, this situation only matters for property that does not fall under an exemption, including the personal property exemption for Florida filers.

New Incoming Debts

If the filer anticipates some additional debts coming in the near future, it may also be wise to hold off on filing for bankruptcy. For most cases, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case will only liquidate debts the filer has as of the date the petition was filed. Any debt that is incurred after the date of filing will stay with the filer after discharge. If the filer anticipates a major medical expense that will result in debt or necessary home improvement expense, it may be best to wait for filing until after that expense has been incurred, making it possible for that debt to be discharged.

If you have questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/file-bankruptcy-or-wait-29955.html

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

What to Do if Your Medical Bill Gets Sent to Collections

Posted on June 18, 2019by Admin

Medical debt is an issue that plagues many Americans. It only takes one major medical crisis to set a person back hundreds, even thousands of dollars. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in every three Americans report having difficulty paying their medical bills. As a result, a number of these individuals end up having their medical bills go into collections.

If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling with medical debt, remember you are not alone, and you do have options.

Negotiating a Settlement with Service Provider or Debt Collector.

If the debt has not been officially sent to a third-party debt collector but is being collected by the original service provider, the consumer can often work directly with that company to negotiate either a payment plan or settlement of the debt owed. The same could be said for if the debt has been sent to a third-party debt collector, although the entity contacted to negotiate on the debt will be different. This settlement can be done through three different possible methods including:

Reduced lump sum payment;
Percentage of debt payment;
Payment plans.

A lump sum payment is a common method used so long as the person has enough money to pay a large amount. The debt collector often would rather have some level of payment rather than nothing at all, so they will often take a lump sum payment to close the account, although the amount owed may be slightly less than what is paid. Many times, this method is preferred because the creditor or debt collector would rather receive a large lump sum of money immediately instead of keeping the negative account on the books or having the consumer file for bankruptcy where the debt would be discharged.

While very similar to a lump sum payment, some creditors will accept a specific percentage to pay off the debt, such as 25 to 30 percent, while forgiving the remainder owed. However, this type of settlement depends heavily on the balance. If someone owes a small balance, the percentage the creditor will accept may be much higher than the percentage of a large balance. Additionally, if the person is suffering from a financial hardship, the creditor may be more willing to work with that person on a percentage payment. Also, if there is a strong threat of bankruptcy, the creditor may accept a lower payment rather than get nothing through a bankruptcy discharge.

Many medical providers will work with the account holder on payment plans if they are not able to pay the bill off in full right away. However, these agreements need to be worked out timely and not after missing several payments, causing the account to go into default. Both parties must agree on an amount and the terms of the payment plan.

Get any Agreement in Writing.

Whatever settlement is worked out between the creditor/collector and consumer, it is important that this agreement be documented in writing. Without a firm commitment on the amount agreed upon, the consumer will have nothing to hold the collector to in the event they dispute the arrangement. It also gives the consumer something legally enforceable in the event the agreement falls through.

Payments Made but Still Sent to Collections.

The unfortunate fact is even if the consumer is making payments on the debt, the unpaid balance can still be sent to collections. Ultimately, it is a business decision that is made by the medical provider (i.e. – doctor’s office, hospital or dentist). How they handle the account depends on many factors, including how large the balance is, how much is being paid monthly, and how long it will take to finally pay off the amount owed. For example, if the individual owes $15,000 and is only making $10 per month payments, the provider may ultimately find that this is not going to work and could send the claim to collections, even though the $10 monthly payments are being made. This action can be much harder to accomplish if the parties have a written payment agreement, which is why it is extremely important that the payment arrangement be in writing.

Refusal of a Payment Plan.

It is always possible that a medical provider will refuse a payment plan. They are not legally obligated to work with the customer on a payment arrangement. For the most part, medical providers will work out payment arrangements out of goodwill, but if the person asking for the payment plan has failed several times before, they are not legally obligated to work out an agreement. The same goes for a collection agency. However, collectors do often work on commission, and because of this, they will often accept a payment plan that will pay off the obligation quickly, closing the account, and getting them paid.

How Medical Debt is Handled in Bankruptcy.

Related Resources:

https://www.inquirer.com/health/consumer/challenge-medical-bill-debt-collection-tips-20190610.html

https://www.growingfamilybenefits.com/negotiate-medical-bills-settle/

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief

Sky-High Insurance Deductibles and Drug Prices Leave Sick Americans with No Recourse

Posted on June 13, 2019by Admin

As more employers lean towards offering their employees high deductible medical insurance plans, the cost of medical care is quickly becoming something many Americans cannot afford.

Insurance deductibles are not the only aspect of medical care that has skyrocketed in recent years. Drug prices have more than tripled in the last 12 years. Americans spend an average of $1,350 a year on prescription medication alone. If a patient is suffering from a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, that cost is even more.

According to a recent study by Callaghan, Americans who took multiple sclerosis medications for their condition paid an average of $3,708 per year out of pocket for their medication. This same medication only cost $244 on average 15 years ago, which goes to show how much costs have gone up over the years.

The fact of the matter is being sick in America is more expensive now than ever before. Another study by Milliman, a national healthcare consulting firm, found that the average patient fighting lymphoma paid $3,700 in the 12 months immediately following the diagnosis. If the diagnosis was acute leukemia, the cost was more than $5,100 for medication treatment.

Someone can be financially stable and relatively healthy, only to receive a devastating cancer diagnosis, something that will not just hurt him or her physically and emotionally but financially, as well. According to the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research in Seattle, cancer patients were twice as likely to file for bankruptcy. That diagnosis can easily set a person back hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on their insurance coverage and the types of treatment required.

High deductible health insurance plans often put the patient in a tough financial spot, even if the person has basic health needs to meet, let alone a chronic condition that requires the person to regularly take medication. In some Western European countries, such as France and Britain, they have national healthcare systems that limit cost sharing for patients with certain chronic conditions. These systems make these prescription drugs available at no cost to the patients. However, the U.S., which has a federal law that prohibits high deductible insurance plans from exempting payment for these services. Patients have no choice but to pay for them in full until they reach their deductibles, which can be thousands of dollars later.

The result is many patients who have serious chronic medical conditions will not follow medical advice and will delay or even refuse treatment for fear of the cost that comes along with it. If someone is seriously injured and needs to receive emergency treatment, he or she may decide not to call 911 if that person has a high deductible plan. No matter how deep the savings may be in the patient’s health savings account, that one medical crisis could completely deplete that account, forcing the patient to charge these services or default on them in the event he or she cannot pay for them.

A recent national poll conducted by The Times found that American consumers who live in a household where someone has a chronic medical condition are twice as likely to have to cut spending on household expenses to pay for medical care. In fact, one in eight American workers who lived in a household where someone was chronically sick had to declare bankruptcy due to their medical bills. This same study showed that sick Americans were more likely to use less healthcare when their insurance plans required them to pay more out-of-pocket.

How is Medical Debt Handled in Bankruptcy?

In bankruptcy, medical debt is treated the same as credit card debt. Medical bills are listed as general unsecured debt and can be easily wiped out in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Making the decision to file for bankruptcy is never an easy one. It can be difficult to get past some of the myths associated with filing for bankruptcy. Sometimes by waiting, an individual facing a lot of debt can find himself or herself in an even worse situation. Filing for bankruptcy can help protect valuable assets, including your home, pension, IRA and social security. It will put an end to wage garnishment and any lawsuit being filed to collect on the debt, thanks to the protections of the automatic stay.

Related Resource:

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-health-insurance-sick-patients-high-bills-20190606-story.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

Debt Consolidation vs. Bankruptcy: The Pros and Cons

Posted on May 29, 2019by Admin

If someone is struggling with large amounts of debt, they may be weighing their options between debt consolidation and bankruptcy. There are positives and negatives to both- but ultimately, it depends on a person’s specific financial situation and life circumstance as to which choice is the right one for him or her.

What is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation involves combining a person’s older debt from various sources into one new debt. This consolidation could be done by taking an unsecured personal loan to pay for the total amount owed or by transferring balances from multiple credit cards into one credit card.

Debt consolidation involves making payment to one lender, oftentimes at a lower interest rate. These are two of its appealing factors. However, we can tell you that debt consolidation rarely provides a long-term solution. Our attorneys have helped many clients who were promised one result from a debt consolidation company only to receive far less, and stuck with the remaining debt.

Here are some of the disadvantages of debt consolidation.

The debt cycle continues: While this option allows the consumer to consolidate multiple sources of debt, it only pays off that debt to combine it into one larger balance. Many consumers make the mistake of utilizing debt consolidation only to continue the cycle of debt.
Delaying the inevitable: Debt consolidation is oftentimes used as a ‘temporary’ fix, only delaying the inevitable. If a person is struggling to pay off various forms of debt, particularly if that debt is medical debt, credit card debt or personal loans- bankruptcy might be a better option, as the consumer would receive a complete discharge of these debts.

Choosing Bankruptcy as an Option.

Depending on an individual’s income and amount of debt, pursuing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case may be the wisest option to discharge the debt or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case to reorganize and pay down qualifying debt. One factor to keep in mind is debt consolidation is a big business. It can be successful for some people, but for others, it may not provide the long-term solution the consumer needs. The attorneys at Kingcade Garcia McMaken have helped thousands of people restart, rebuilt and recover through bankruptcy.

Related Resources:

https://studentloanhero.com/featured/debt-consolidation-vs-bankruptcy/

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Struggling with Medical Debt? You’re Not Alone.

Posted on May 15, 2019by Admin

When someone is going through a medical crisis, the last thing that person needs is additional stress. However, for millions of Americans, insurmountable medical debt is a reality that accompanies their illness or medical condition. The Consumer Financial Protections Bureau reports 72 million Americans struggle to pay off medical debt, as of 2018. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the U.S.

According to a recent study by Kaiser Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Times, more than 50 percent of consumers have someone in their household who suffers from some type of chronic medical condition. Dealing with continual medical appointments, medication and monitoring of the condition can take its toll, especially on a family’s finances.

Even more staggering are the statistics reported by the American Cancer Society (ACS). According to their figures, more than 137 million Americans are struggling to pay their medical bills. Falling behind due to a medical condition can happen so quickly and easily. With the cost of medical care in our country, many of these patients end up losing everything they have because of their illness. The ACS data shows that 42 percent of cancer patients end up losing their entire life savings within just two years of treatment.

The ACS study looked at what they classify as high out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for medical care, not just care for the treatment of cancer, by focusing on patients between the ages of 18 and 64. Their study looked at several criteria, including lifestyle modification because of medical costs, temporary loss of employment because of medical treatment, the need to refinance or mortgage the home due to medical bills, permanent loss of employment from medical treatment, and the need to sell the patient’s home just to pay medical bills. Other, more severe measures, included stopping necessary treatment because of the cost, and even considering suicide.

The ACS researchers looked at three different “domains” or areas of hardship, including financial hardship, psychological hardship, and coping behaviors. One-third of those surveyed in the category over the age of 65 reported hardship in at least one of the three areas surveyed of hardship. However, of those who were in the “employed” category, meaning between the ages of 18 and 64, over 50 percent of them reported hardship in at least one of the three categories. Women tended to be the group hit the hardest in these three domains.

An even more disturbing statistic showed that while more than half of those surveyed said they were struggling in one of the three hardship areas, one-fourth of those surveyed reported struggling in two of those domains. Unfortunately, as the cost of healthcare continue to rise, as do the prevalence of chronic medical conditions, this problem is only anticipated to get worse, which is why medical care and quality health insurance continue to be an issue on the forefront of politics.

How is Medical Debt Handled in Bankruptcy?

Related Resources:

https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/health-care