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charity care

Connecticut Just Erased $315 Million in Medical Debt — Here’s What You Can Actually Do About Yours (June 2026)

by Steve Rhode

Connecticut just erased $315M in medical debt — but you can’t apply for programs like that. Here’s what you CAN do about your hospital bills right now, in any state.

I’m Being Sued for Medical Debt. Here’s What to Do Right Now.

by Steve Rhode

Sued for a hospital bill? You have 20-30 days to respond. Here are your 5 options — including one that stops the lawsuit immediately.

A Medical Debt Collector Just Got Caught Breaking the Law — Here’s How to Fight Back If It Happens to You

by Steve Rhode

A NJ mother’s lawsuit against a medical debt collector reveals illegal tactics millions face silently. Each FDCPA violation can cost the collector $1,000 — and charity care is shrinking.

Oregon’s Hospital Debt Law Is Actually Working — Here’s the Loophole Every Patient at a Nonprofit Hospital Should Know

by

A new JAMA study proves Oregon’s hospital debt law cut medical collections dramatically. But the federal rule it’s based on applies to every nonprofit hospital in America. Here’s how to use it.

Maine Just Changed the Medical Debt Rules. Don’t Pay That Hospital Bill With a Credit Card.

by Steve Rhode

Maine just banned wage garnishment and home liens on medical debt. But paying with a credit card strips every one of those protections. Here’s what to do instead.

Your Hospital Bill Is Probably Wrong. Here Is How to Fight It — and Every Option If You Cannot Pay.

by Steve Rhode

Medical billing errors affect nearly half of hospital claims. A debt expert since 1994 explains how to fight your bill and every option when you can t pay.

Your ER Visit Was Denied as ‘Panic Disorder’ — Here’s How to Fight an $11,000 Bill

by Steve Rhode

Part of the Medical Debt Complete Guide: This article is one piece of a larger guide. For the full picture — including how to negotiate, apply for charity care, protect your credit score, and when bankruptcy is the right answer — see the Medical Debt: Your Complete Guide to Fighting, Negotiating, and Eliminating It. Quick …

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Oregon Hospitals Want to Weaken Charity Care Screening That’s Already Working

by Steve Rhode

Oregon hospitals are pushing to raise the charity care screening threshold from $500 to $1,500 through House Bill 4040 — even as state data shows the current protections have cut bad debt by more than half and nearly doubled charity care spending.

Indiana Medical Debt Bill: No Wage Grabs, No Home Liens

by Steve Rhode

Indiana Senate passed SB 85 to protect patients from medical debt wage garnishment and home liens. Payment plans capped at 10% of income. Heads to House.

Steve Rhode

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Get Out of Debt Guy Podcast - Steve Rhode

Get Out of Debt Guy Podcasts

  • Bankruptcy Isn't Failure—It's a Financial Tool | AI, College, and the Cost of Bad Money Decisions
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