If you're one of the millions of Americans struggling with unpaid medical bills, you don't need to feel ashamed or humiliated. Inflated health care costs and rising medical debt are significant problems in Illinois and across the country. If you feel like you'll never be able to pay your bills, you're not alone. Unpaid medical expenses have forced countless people into financial despair.
DebtStoppers in Chicago can help you get rid of your debt problems and get on with your life. As the largest bankruptcy filer in Illinois, we've helped thousands upon thousands of people move past their unpaid hospital bills and start fresh. Call or text us today at 312-913-0630 to request a free initial consultation with one of our experienced Illinois bankruptcy attorneys.
The state of Illinois has passed a law called the Fair Patient Billing Act (FPBA) that applies to most state hospitals. This law requires hospitals to provide certain information on your bills and follow fair collection practices.
Under the FPBA, Illinois hospital bills must include:
Illinois laws also place restrictions on how hospitals can collect unpaid debts. For example, before a hospital can send a debt to a collection agency, it must first:
Illinois has also imposed caps on interest rates and how much of a person's income a hospital can collect from an uninsured or underinsured patient qualified for discounted health care.
While the FPBA can help protect you from unfair collection practices, it does NOT limit how much hospitals can charge you, and it does nothing to eliminate or reduce the amount you owe. While some hospitals offer limited debt forgiveness, it is entirely up to the provider's discretion and in no way required or guaranteed.
Filing for bankruptcy is the only truly effective way to deal with your unpaid medical bills. In the Illinois legal system, you have two choices: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
With Chapter 7, you can discharge your unpaid medical debts and move on with your life. Although Chapter 7 is referred to as a "liquidation" bankruptcy, DebtStoppers clients rarely lose any of their possessions in the process.
Chapter 13, on the other hand, is a repayment plan, so you will never have to liquidate your assets. Instead, you will restructure your debts into a single monthly payment you can actually afford to make. This method allows you to pay back your debts over 3 to 5 years.
Our skilled Illinois lawyers can review your personal financial situation and explain how bankruptcy can assist with your unpaid medical bills. Call or text us today at 312-913-0630 to schedule a $0 debt analysis with one of our practiced bankruptcy lawyers.
Medical bills shouldn't destroy your future or your finances. Call or text DebtStoppers today to get your customized bankruptcy solution.