Medical Expenses Can Lead to Financial Hardship
Health problems can bring issues that extend far beyond the medical realm. With millions of people dealing with inadequate health insurance — or no health coverage at all — many hospital stays, procedures, office and emergency room visits, ambulance expenses, surgeries, medicines and dental bills are simply not covered. This leaves consumers on the hook for bills that they may have no way of paying, particularly if they are dealing with a life-changing illness or accident or if they have suffered an income loss.
The good news is that medical bills, like most credit card balances, represent unsecured debts that can easily be discharged or otherwise dealt with in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you are worried about medical bills that you cannot afford to pay, we can help. Contact us to learn more about medical bills and bankruptcy in St. Louis.
Dealing With Utility Bills Through Bankruptcy
For many people, monthly electric, water or gas bills can be high, and they can get behind on these bills during hard times; in some cases, utility arrears can add up to substantial amounts of money. When worries about paying a bill turn into the loss of electricity, gas or water shut-off, something needs to be done. If arrears on utility bills are part of a bigger debt situation, bankruptcy offers solutions that can keep your service from being turned off or restore utility service and get bills back on track.
In addition to dealing with credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans, car notes and mortgages, bankruptcy can be used to deal with utility bills; in most Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, delinquent utility debt can be discharged along with consumer debt. Typically, when you include utility debt in a bankruptcy, a utility company will ask for a deposit which can be large. Fortunately, if you ask, most utility companies will allow such deposits to be paid over several months, and then the deposit can be returned to you once you establish a good payment history after filing. In some cases, if necessary, the bankruptcy judge will grant assistance if the utility company is being unreasonable in allowing you to meet the deposit requirement. Our attorneys can help facilitate affordable utility payment arrangements as part of a bankruptcy filing.
Call Us for a Free Consultation
Call our St. Louis, Missouri, bankruptcy lawyers at 314-644-0303 or toll free at 866-394-1151 for a free consultation about your situation.
