Since younger Oregon residents are likely to be healthier than their older counterparts, they are often less likely to get health insurance. Add this to the fact that they are less likely to have worked long enough to generate enough savings to cover big medical...
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Medical Debt
Patients deserve to know fair prices for medical procedures
If paying a medical bill was like buying a candy bar, consumers would know the exact amount they owe. However, some hospitals may choose to keep consumers in the dark about fair procedure prices. Often, the expensive charges don’t usually correlate with quality of...
Study finds link between health insurance gaps, bankruptcy
People in Oregon and across the U.S. are significantly more likely to file for bankruptcy protection if they experience an interruption in their health insurance coverage, according to a new study published in August by the American Bankruptcy Institute. Researchers...
Unpaid medical bills can affect credit score
For many Oregon residents, medical bills form a significant amount of their overall debt burden. Even people with insurance may struggle with high deductibles, expensive medications or out-of-network treatments. As a result, people may find themselves facing...
Steps to take before filing bankruptcy for medical debt
Whether due to an unexpected diagnosis, emergency room visit, surgery or more, medical bills can quickly become a source of overwhelming financial stress. While many Oregonians may do their best to financially prepare for such medical emergencies, sometimes health...
How to manage your medical debt
Medical debt is a burden for many Oregonians. In fact, past due medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy.The research on the cost of healthcare is startling. Nearly all patients surveyed reported being more concerned about the bill upfront than the procedure....
1 in 7 U.S. patients hit with surprise medical bills
Patients in Oregon and across the U.S. are getting slapped with surprise medical bills despite staying within their health care network, according to an analysis by the Health Care Cost Institute. In fact, the report found that approximately 1 in 7 patients nationwide...
Medical bills are a factor in most personal bankruptcies
Medical debt is a factor in about two-thirds of personal bankruptcies filed in Oregon and around the country according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Public Health. The analysis of approximately 530,000 families pushed into inescapable debt...
Outstanding medical debt doesn’t have to end in disaster
Although Oregon residents enjoy a high standard of care when it comes to medical treatment, complex conditions can lead to large healthcare bills. Even people covered by medical insurance can find that an unexpected illness or injury may result in tens or hundreds of...
Tips for paying off medical debt
Medical debt may represent a significant financial challenge for some Oregon residents. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that in 2016, around 20 percent of people who were of working age and who had insurance said they struggled to pay medical bills in the past year...
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The Law Office of Kim Covington, is a woman owned debt relief agency, and I have helped families, individuals and small businesses, file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, for over 24 years.