A report issued today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) examines the financial consequences of medical billing and collections endured by individuals and families across the country. The report draws from the rising volume of medical billing and collection complaints submitted to the CFPB. The CFPB is using today’s research to strengthen its across …
Bob wrote to me through the GetOutOfDebt.org website He said, “Steve, I’m disabled and recently survived cancer and declared Bankruptcy on $3.8 million of Medical Debt that I had from 2016. I’ve rebuilt my credit from that, but then I went into kidney failure, leading to dialysis and a transplant. I’m on SSDI I and …
Question: Dear Steve, I’m in debt over my head had to pay for some of my wife’s medical supplies because my insurance would not cover it so I used my credit cards to buy it and now I’m barely surviving to pay my Bill’s. I am in 72000 dollars in debt and would like to …
Darcel Richardson knows she’s fortunate in one sense: She still has her job as a vocational counselor in Baltimore. But despite that, she won’t be able to make her rent payment this month because she’s not getting her full salary for a while. More than $400 per biweekly paycheck — about a quarter of her …
It’s scary to receive a medical bill that’s costlier than expected. Medical debt can sometimes lead to bankruptcy and hurt things like your credit score and ability to buy a home. Some let the payment notices pile up unopened because they’re afraid of the cost. It’s human nature to avoid unpleasant news, said Annelise Moss Bretthauer, certified …
Over the past few months, several hospitals have announced major changes to their financial assistance policies, including curtailing the number of lawsuits they file against low-income patients unable to pay their medical bills. Investigative reports have spurred the moves, and they prompted criticism from a top federal official. “We are learning the lengths to which …
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. MEMPHIS, Tennessee — This year, a Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare housekeeper left her job just three hours into her shift and caught a bus to Shelby County General Sessions Court. Wearing her …
MEMPHIS, Tennessee — In July 2007, Carrie Barrett went to the emergency room at Methodist University Hospital, complaining of shortness of breath and tightness in her chest. Her leg was swollen, she’d later recall, and her toes were turning black. Given her family history, high blood pressure and newly diagnosed congestive heart failure, doctors performed …
The Urban League has put out a great interactive tool that shows debt in America. When you look at the maps showing the most amount of different types of debts, there is a strong correlation between those parts of the country where medical or auto loan debt is higher than average. The darker the color, …
Question: Dear Steve, I was hospitalized a couple times and had insurance but they still sent me to collections, so, I have 3 open accounts with Sequoia Financial services. I’m wondering the best way to get it off my credit history as I’m barely getting stable and have a job that doesn’t pay well. What …