Medical Debt Lawyers

Giving Hope to Clients Struggling with Medical Debt

There is nothing more distressing than dealing with an illness or medical condition that requires immediate medical treatment. Unfortunately, for many, the stress continues long after seeking treatment due to costly medical bills.

If you are struggling with medical debt, rest assured that the lawyers at Atlas Law Center understand how overwhelming it can be for you and your family. That’s why we’ll help you find and pursue a debt relief solution so you can stop spending your valuable time worrying about how to pay your medical debt. If you’re ready to break free from this constant concern, reach out to our Chicago law office for a free consultation with caring lawyers.

What Can You Do About Medical Debt?

As your medical bills start piling up, you might begin to lose sleep over how you’re going to afford to pay them, especially if you’re still recovering from an illness or injury. But it’s important to remember that you have options when it comes to paying off medical bills.

Before you make any decisions regarding your medical debt, you should double-check what you actually owe, particularly if the bills seem much higher than you expected. It is possible the medical provider made a mistake or you misunderstood the total you’re supposed to pay. As you review your bills, make sure every charge is itemized so you know whether you actually received the medical care you’re being charged for.

In fact, the Fair Patient Billing Act in Illinois requires hospitals to include specific information on every bill so patients can more easily understand what they’re paying for and spot any mistakes. In particular, your hospital bills must clarify the dates of service, describe the healthcare services received, show the total amount you owe, and show how to contact the hospital for billing assistance.

If you still don’t understand your bills and want to ensure they’re accurate, you can request a medical billing advocate to review them on your behalf. This type of professional can examine your medical bills to find errors that include overcharging for healthcare services, charging for services you never received, and balance billing after your insurance company has paid part of the bill. If your medical billing advocate discovers these or other errors on your bills, they can contact your medical provider to request corrections.

Once you’re sure your medical bills are accurate, the next step should be determining how to pay them, assuming you can’t afford to pay them in full right away. A medical billing advocate can assist with this, as they know how to negotiate to bring down your balance, get rid of late fees, or work out an affordable payment plan with low-interest fees.

If the main issue is that your insurance company denied one or more claims, a medical billing advocate can appeal this decision, which usually involves collecting evidence to show why insurance should cover the treatment. In addition, you can ask the hospital about financial aid options, such as charity care, which can cover many or all of your costs.

If it turns out you don’t qualify for a payment plan, charity care, or other options, you should talk to a medical bill lawyer about legal actions you can take to eliminate your medical debt. One of the most effective ways to get rid of this type of debt is through bankruptcy, as Chapter 7 and 13 allow you to discharge medical bills. Contact our Chicago law office today to learn more from a bankruptcy lawyer.

Should You File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

One of the most effective ways to put a stop to calls from medical debt collectors is to get your medical bills discharged through bankruptcy. In fact, one of the most common reasons people file for bankruptcy is to eliminate medical debt, so you’re in good company if you choose this legal option to get your finances back on track in the future.

One of the options you have is filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is also called liquidation bankruptcy because it requires you to sell certain assets so you can repay some of the debt. If you’re worried about what this means for your home, vehicle, or other assets, rest assured that there are exemptions that let you keep a certain amount of property.

Not everyone is a good candidate for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, so be sure to talk to a skilled bankruptcy lawyer about your case. Generally, you must pass a means test that shows you do not have the disposable income to repay your debt. If you pass this test, your medical bills and other unsecured debts will be discharged, and you’ll likely get to keep necessities like your house, car, and certain personal belongings.

If it turns out the bankruptcy court believes you have enough income to pay your medical bills, you won’t qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, you can still consider other ways to eliminate your debt from the medical services you received, such as through Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Contact our law office today to speak with a bankruptcy attorney who is ready to review your options and represent you through your case.

What Happens If You File for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

If you can’t afford to pay your medical expenses in full and are tired of dodging phone calls from medical debt collection agencies, declaring bankruptcy may be the most appropriate choice for you. In particular, if you have enough disposable income to make payments on many of your medical bills, consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

With this type of bankruptcy, you must reorganize your debts and create a repayment plan to follow for three to five years. After the payment period, your debts will be discharged, even if you didn’t pay them in full. This way, you can be free of your medical bills within a few years, even if you have too much disposable income to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Another benefit of this type of bankruptcy is that you don’t have to liquidate your assets to repay each medical provider you owe money to. So, even if you have valuable assets, you can typically keep them after Chapter 13 bankruptcy as long as you make a repayment plan that the hospital or other medical provider is willing to accept.

Like any other legal process, bankruptcy can be complicated. It’s not always clear if you qualify or if this is the best option to eliminate your medical bills. That’s why you should hire a Chicago attorney to guide you through this process. Experienced legal professionals can consider your circumstances before advising you on the right path forward. Before you make any decisions regarding bankruptcy, they can look for evidence of billing errors, double billing, medical malpractice, insurance issues, and other situations that will determine how to proceed with your case. If you’re ready to explore options that range from charity care to bankruptcy, contact a caring attorney from our Chicago law firm.

What Can Our Medical Bill Lawyers Do for You?

Always diligent and thorough, our team will place your medical debt under a microscope in search of the most viable debt relief solution available to you. We may find that you are eligible for helpful legal options, such as filing for bankruptcy to discharge your medical debts. If this is the case, we can recommend whether filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 would be best for you and guide you through the filing process.

Once your medical debt has been discharged, the legal role of the lawyers at Atlas Law Center won’t stop there. We provide extended protection through our Protect the Discharge program. If you are being harassed by creditors after debt discharge or your credit report includes negative and erroneous data, we can take legal action on your behalf. We are not afraid to file lawsuits in order to protect your consumer rights!

If you wish to explore your options regarding medical debt, we are here to give you a better idea of what you can expect down the road. With the help of a Chicago consumer law lawyer, you may free yourself from medical debt so you can enjoy financial stability once again. If this result appeals to you, call our Illinois law firm at 331-321-4748 to schedule a free initial consultation.