If you or your loved one has ever experienced a medical emergency, you know what a nightmare it can be. You’re dining out at a restaurant and someone has a heart attack, or they’re driving a car and they fall asleep behind the wheel, or they have a sudden stroke while watching a movie. The only thing you’re concerned about right now is keeping yourself or your loved one alive. You’re certainly not thinking about facing bankruptcy because one of the physicians working on you was outside your medical network. Sounds crazy, right? It’s not as crazy as you might think.
A recent article highlighted three incredible but true medical billing nightmare stories and made it that much easier to see how so many people facing medical debt fall into bankruptcy. The article centered on a heart-attack patient who received a bill for $12,340; a family of a non-breathing newborn that was charged $24,000; and a skiing accident victim who was charged $73,000 after it was discovered some of the doctors working on him were not in his insurance network. While each victim did their due diligence in putting their claim through insurance, the bill came weeks later and took them completely by surprise.
Stories like these, of which there are many more, have prompted the proposal of a law that would cap out-of-pocket medical costs for emergency situations and require disclosure of costs prior to any work being done.
Medical debt has become the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. If you’re not careful, an outstanding hospital bill can lead to a whole slew of financial headaches. Many people who choose to ignore these bills wind up with a tanked credit score and on the receiving end of ceaseless calls from collection agents. If you’re facing bankruptcy due to medical bills that you just can’t pay, talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney today.
The Law Offices of Joel R. Spivack has decades of experience helping clients meet the challenges of bankruptcy head-on. We will provide sound legal guidance every step of the way throughout the bankruptcy process. And we will advise you about re-establishing your credit and focusing on your fresh financial start.
