How Can I Discharge Medical Debt In Benton County?

One of the most important things we do as debt relief attorneys is help people with medical debt. Medical costs are skyrocketing across our county, and coupled with the increasing costs of everyday life, a lot of our neighbors are getting behind. We think that is unfair. No one should have to lose everything because of medical debt. This is why we're fighting back by helping you find legal debt relief. Our attorneys will assist you in reducing the unnecessary charges on your bill or fully discharging your medical debt through bankruptcy.

Benton County is the 12th healthiest county in Washington state. With leading medical facilities, including Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Trios Southridge Hospital, and Lourdes Medical Center, it is no surprise our community is so healthy. However, medical care in Benton County is 17% higher than the national average. Furthermore, 8.5% of Benton County residents have no health insurance, and even those with health insurance, 23% are underinsured.

Medical debt can be catastrophic, preventing you from enjoying the Tri-Cities area. Whether you love hiking Badger Mountain, biking along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, or relaxing at Columbia Park, the weight of medical debt is crushing. We understand, which is why our medical debt relief attorneys help our neighbors get out from under mounting medical debt.

So contact us today if you need help. We'll start with a free consultation, where you can talk one-on-one with our Kennewick medical debt relief attorneys. We'll review your case and look at all your legal options for relief.

Yes, an attorney in Kennewick experienced in medical debt relief can help you lower your bills. We have extensive experience in negotiation and will work with your medical providers to reduce charges. Here's how we can help you legally lower the payments for your medical bills:

• Review Your Bills: Our Benton County medical debt relief attorneys will thoroughly review your medical bills to identify any errors, overcharges, or services that you may know about. We'll determine if there are grounds to negotiate the charges down, even if the bills appear accurate.
• Negotiate Directly With Your Healthcare Providers: We will communicate directly with your healthcare providers and medical billing departments to negotiate lower charges. We may argue for a reduction based on your financial hardship, ability to pay, or the fact that certain treatments or services may not have been necessary.
• Request Discounts Or Payment Plans: Our attorneys in Kennewick will negotiate discounts and extended payment terms. We'll consider options like interest-free or low-interest payment plans to make your medical debt more manageable.
• Use Legal Leverage: In some cases, we may reference consumer protection laws or healthcare regulations to encourage providers to lower charges.
• Settle Your Debts: We can help settle your medical debt for a lower amount than what you owe. Our medical debt relief legal team in Kennewick may negotiate a lump sum payment or a settlement agreement that reduces your total balance, particularly if you're facing financial hardship.

With our Washington state legal expertise and negotiation skills, we often secure more favorable terms or lower payment amounts for medical bills.

Yes, our Kennewick attorneys can dispute unfair medical charges with their expertise in Washington state’s healthcare and consumer protection laws. Here's how:

• We Review The Billing Practices Of The Medical Provider: We will examine your charges to ensure they comply with insurance contracts, healthcare regulations, and the law. If we find discrepancies, we can help dispute the charges on your behalf.
• We Negotiate Directly With Providers: We will negotiate with healthcare providers or insurance companies to lower or eliminate unfair charges. We may argue that the charges are unreasonable, unnecessary, or inflated.
• We Will File A Legal Complaint Against Unfair Practices: If your charges are part of a broader pattern of unfair practices, we will file complaints with the correct regulatory agencies, such as Washington state medical boards, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
• We Will Represent You In Court: If medical debt negotiations fail, we can file a lawsuit to challenge unfair medical bills, particularly if the charges violate consumer protection laws or contractual agreements.

If you believe your medical charges are unfair, call our Tri-Cities attorneys. We offer a free consultation to help you understand your legal options.

Yes, filing for bankruptcy can discharge medical bills because they are unsecured debt, meaning they have no collateral backing. Under both federal and Washington state laws, you can either eliminate or reorganize your unsecured medical debt through the bankruptcy process. There are two types of bankruptcy to consider filing when you are facing medical debt:

Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also called "liquidation bankruptcy," is the most common form for individuals seeking to discharge their medical debts. To file bankruptcy in Benton County, you must pass the Washington state "means test." The means test looks at your income compared to the median income in Washington state to determine if you qualify for Chapter 7. This means your income must be below the state median or show that you don't have enough disposable income to pay off your debts.

Once you file for Chapter 7 in Benton County, the court will review your financial situation and any qualifying unsecured medical debt can be discharged. Once the judge discharges your medical debt, you are no longer legally required to pay it. In exchange for debt discharge, the Benton County courts may liquidate some of your non-exempt assets to repay creditors. However, Washington state’s exemption laws allow you to keep certain property. Here are the state exemptions:

• Homestead Exemption: You can exempt up to $125,000 in equity in your primary residence (as of 2024), which can be critical if you own a home.
• Vehicle Exemption: In Washington, you can exempt up to $5,000 in equity for a car. This may double if you are married.
• Personal Property Exemption: Household goods and personal property, including clothing and appliances, have exemptions, ensuring that essential items are protected.

While Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on your credit report for up to 10 years, the discharge can provide immediate financial relief by eliminating medical bills.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy, also called "wage earner’s bankruptcy," is where you create a repayment plan to pay off some or all of your debts over three to five years. Here's how it works for medical debt:

To file for Chapter 13, your debts must fall below a certain threshold. As of 2024, the limit for unsecured debts like medical debt is $465,275 and $1,395,875 for secured debts (like your mortgage).

In Chapter 13, instead of discharging medical debt, you propose a repayment plan that consolidates your medical debt along with other unsecured debts into a single monthly payment. You will make these monthly payments over 3-5 years. The court reviews the plan, which creditors must follow and medical providers must accept once approved. Although the Benton County Courts may not eliminate all your medical debt, bankruptcy can significantly reduce your medical debt obligations.

Chapter 13 also affects your credit, staying on your report for up to seven years. However, unlike Chapter 7, you may be able to keep more of your assets and eventually regain financial stability by paying off a portion of your debts.

Medical bankruptcy also provides immediate relief. When you file for bankruptcy, the Benton County court imposes an automatic stay on creditors. The court-ordered stay halts collections efforts, including actions to collect medical debt. If you're considering bankruptcy, contact our Kennewick legal offices today. Our medical bankruptcy attorneys are standing by to offer a free consultation.

When choosing a medical bankruptcy attorney, work with a local lawyer with experience specifically in medical debt relief. As experienced Kennewick bankruptcy attorneys, we understand the nuances of handling medical debt in Benton County Courts and know the judges, court procedures, and laws. Further, we have a proven track record of lowering medical debt for people across the Tri-Cities region. We know exactly how to get you out of medical debt legally and for good.

Your health should not cost you everything. Call our Kennewick law office today for a free consultation. We'll explore your options for medical debt relief and help you get back to focusing on your health.