In late 2010, the US House of Representatives passed the Medical Debt Relief Act, also known as H.R. 3421. The purpose of the Act is to restrict reporting of medical debt on credit reports. Specifically, if a medical debt has been paid or settled more than 45 days before the credit report is issued, the medical debt should not be reported. It is estimated that 40% of credit reports include medical debts and at least 12% of the debts reported have been paid. Therefore, this Act will only help a small number of people, however, it will give incentive for people to pay as soon as possible considering that the medical debt will discontinue to be reported in an extemely efficient fashion. There is a similar Bill expected to be written in the Senate as well.
The lack of reporting of paid or settled medical debt will boost the consumer’s credit scores making them more apt to be eligible for other extensions of credit including, but not limited to auto and/or home loans.
If there are any general questions or topics you would like to read about relating to bankruptcy law in the Eastern Pennsylvania region, you may contact the Bankruptcy Lawyers at Sadek Law Offices, LLC at 215-545-0008 or 610-432-3111 or email brad@sadeklaw.com. Thank you.