Medical Debt Blues

Attorney Image By: James Filippi
Medical Debt Blues photo

Does medical debt have you feeling blue? It may not seem fair that on top of needing to see a doctor or go to the hospital, you also must deal with some awfully expensive medical bills that most of us could not even dream of paying because they are so exorbitant.

Unfortunately, doctors, hospitals, and laboratories can sue and get a judgment against you. This allows them to garnish your wages, seize your bank accounts and even foreclose on your house. Medical bills can leave you without money and homeless if you allow that to happen.

I have done a lot of work with people who owe medical debt, and there are 4 things I have learned:

Medical debts are a BIG problem for many people.

You are not alone. A federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study found that 59% of debt collection calls were related to medical bills [1]. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, more than 40% of American families have gone through major financial stress due to medical expenses [2].

Being in debt can be bad for your health.

A Gallup survey of college graduates from 1990 to 2014 found that those in debt were sicker than those who were not, especially due to the stress related to debt [3].

Given the vulnerable situation, be careful from whom you seek help.

The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to stay away from debt relief companies that charge fees before settling your debts, make guarantees about getting rid of unsecured debt, and make promises about being able to put an end to all debt related lawsuits and calls.

Be Smart and Strategic

Whether you amassed the debt quickly, after an unexpected medical crisis, or accumulated the debt in a slow spiral, the stress of a lawsuit does not help. Nor does ignoring the situation in hopes that it will go away. It will not, but a qualified, experienced, trustworthy attorney can advocate for your best interests and give you back a sense of control.

There may be a chance my legal team and I can help. Our approach is compassionate, yet strategic. We will work to stop the constant phone calls and debt harassment. You do not have to live under a cloud of debt with no hope of paying it off. This challenging situation can be solved intelligently, and in a way that respects your dignity.

Every debt situation is unique, and we recognize that. We are your resource to improve this situation for you. We will promptly answer any questions you have, and we will make sure you understand the entire process.

Do not deal with this alone. Trust that you will be happy that the Filippi Law Firm was by your side helping you through this situation.

We are here for you, every step of the way!

Filippi Law Firm, P.C., provides legal services in estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation, and personal bankruptcy in the greater Sacramento area, with a focus in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and Granite Bay. Give us a call at (916) 333-7910 or fill out the contact form to get in touch with our office. Consultations are free, and they can be done over the phone, via Zoom, or in person at our office in Rocklin. Prepare for your future and work with the best estate planning attorneys today.

[1] https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/201701_cfpb_Debt-Collection-Survey-Report.pdf

[2] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/sick-in-america-poll/

[3] https://news.gallup.com/poll/174317/student-debt-linked-worse-health-less-wealth.aspx

Satisfied Client Stories

Icon

The team of Filippi Law are kind, sincere and thorough in their work. They helped us work through our trust administration of our family member, to create our own trust, and any other issues that came up along the way. We appreciate their time and their willingness to explain the process in the detail. They also helped us with needed referrals for anything else. We would highly recommend their insight to anyone.

Elizabeth G. | Sacramento, CA
Icon

Jen helped us figure out the nuances of the different state laws to help with setting up the will and distribution to family members. She found issues with our previous will/trust that were corrected and offered updates to the new laws. We are very pleased with the final product and my mother feels that her wishes have been heard and met.

Susan S. | Roseville, CA
Icon

I worked with a few different people throughout the trust distribution process and everyone was very helpful and pleasant to work with.

Nicole H. | Fort Collins, CO
Icon

Best firm I’ve ever had represent me both personally and professionally. Jim and the team lead the way!

Brandon M. | Rocklin, CA
Icon

We found the Filippi Law Firm in Yelp and we were so lucky to have found them. Both Jen and Jim were kind and patient, explaining the process and addressing our concerns with a cost we felt was appropriate for the quality of the work. At all times we felt supported in the process and it could not have gone better. If you need this kind of work do yourself a favor and reach out to these folks for help. You won’t regret it.

Ron G. | Sacramento, CA
Icon

Jenn helped us with a trust account for my parents. She is very polite and thorough at doing her job she answered every question. My parents had and made them feel very welcome there. If we ever had to use the office again, we would .

Mark L. | California

Contact Us