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Aug 28, 2017

How to Protect Yourself against Identity Theft while Shopping Online in Pennsylvania

August 28th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

While shopping online, Pennsylvania consumers should take safety measures to prevent themselves from becoming victims of identity theft.

Aug 28, 2017

Questions Florida Consumers Should Ask before Adding an Authorized User to a Credit Card Account

August 28th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Adding an authorized user to a credit card account may seem like the right thing to do, but Florida consumers should ask a few questions first.

Aug 25, 2017

Good News for Consumers Harassed by Certain Debt Collection Agencies in Minnesota

August 25th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Regulators from five states, including Minnesota, recently filed a lawsuit against three different debt collection agencies for violating the FDCPA.

Aug 25, 2017

How Accidentally Signing Up for Auto Pay Can Cause Credit Trouble for Illinois Consumers

August 25th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Accidental auto pay can cause credit trouble for Illinois consumers. So, make sure to read contracts carefully when signing up for services.

Aug 24, 2017

New Medical Debt Reporting Rules Could Increase Credit Scores for Many Georgia Consumers

August 24th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Because of new medical debt reporting rules, some Georgia consumers may see at least a small jump in the credit scores after September 15.

Aug 24, 2017

How New York Consumers Can Recover from Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and Start Building Good Credit Scores

August 24th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Checking your credit reports for errors is the first important step toward credit recovery for New York consumers who file Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Aug 21, 2017

Why Florida Consumers should be Careful with, but Not Fearful of Hard Credit Checks

August 21st, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Florida consumers should be aware of the fact that hard credit checks do have an impact on credit scores, but the damage is usually minimal.

Aug 14, 2017

Why Pennsylvania Parents Should Talk to their Children About How Credit Card Management Works

August 14th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

It’s important for young people to learn about credit card management at a young age, so Pennsylvania parents should start the conversation early.

Aug 14, 2017

Florida Drivers should be on the Lookout for Credit Card Skimmers at Gas Stations

August 14th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

Credit card skimmers are on the rise at Florida gas stations, so consumers should be extra cautious when using pay-at-the-pump card reading devices.

Aug 10, 2017

Can Medical Bills Go to Collections: Understanding Debt Collectors and Your Medical History in Illinois

August 10th, 2017|Bankruptcy, Credit Repair, Credit Score, Debt Issues, Identity Thefts & Scams|

When it comes to what debt collectors can and cannot see on their medical history, Illinois consumers should know that there are a lot of misconceptions.

When it comes to their medical history, many Illinois consumers have questions about what debt collectors can and cannot see.

Most Illinois consumers have at least heard of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This statute protects the privacy of your medical information. All Illinois hospitals and doctor’s offices require patients to sign medical privacy forms before treatment. HIPAA requires these forms and takes violations very seriously. So,, how is HIPAA handled when medical bills go unpaid? Are debt collectors in violation of HIPAA when they include medical information with debt verification?

The Myth about Debt Collectors and Your Medical History

Some Illinois consumers firmly believe that no medical debt collector may look at someone’s medical history. This prompts some consumers with unpaid medical debts to demand verification from their debt collector. They do this in hopes that the debt collector, restricted by HIPAA, won’t be able to verify the debt.

What if the debt collector sends the consumer a detailed medical bill? Many medical care recipients in Illinois believe that such debt collectors are in violation of HIPAA. However, this isn’t necessarily accurate.

Keep in mind that privacy rules vary from state to state. For the most part, though, there appears to be no conflict between HIPAA and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

When Debt Collectors are permitted to View the Medical Histories of Illinois Consumers

Illinois residents should understand that no debt collector may view your medical information without permission. Yet, if you request verification of a medical debt, you are, in essence, giving them permission to obtain and pass along this information. According to a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), this interpretation is consistent with HIPAA laws.

Here is the direct quote from the DHHS:

“If you specifically ask either a healthcare provider or its collection agency to provide you with verification of the specifics of a medical debt you incurred, you are in essence giving them permission under HIPAA to get you that information and supply it to you. In some instances, a collection agency’s client, the Hospital or Physician, may choose to send you that information directly.”

If any Illinois consumer does not want a medical debt collector to view their medical bill, they have the right, under HIPAA, to obtain the information from the healthcare provider directly. HIPAA requires these providers to respond to patients who make these requests within a reasonable timeframe.

Tips for Illinois Consumers: Can Medical Bills Go to Collections and How to Handle Them

In Illinois and the rest of the country, medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy filings. For many consumers – even those with good medical insurance – just one hospital bill is often financially devastating. However, looking for HIPAA loopholes is definitely not a good way to deal with medical debt.

Most healthcare providers respond positively to consumers who are open and honest about their financial situations. So, the best way to handle medical bills that you actually owe is to talk to someone from your hospital or doctor’s office. More often than not, they will work out a payment plan with you that will allow you to pay what you owe and protect your credit score.

On the other hand, overcharged Illinois medical care recipients can and should dispute the debts. Again, going directly to the healthcare provider is the best way to dispute inaccurate medical bills. If this doesn’t work and wrongful medical debt ends up on your credit reports, you may need legal assistance.

How Illinois Consumers can get Medical Debt off their Credit Reports

After September 15 of 2017, consumers should notice changes in how medical debt is reported to the credit bureaus. From this point, medical debt may not show up on consumer credit reports unless it is at least six months old. This window of time is meant to give the insurance companies pay their portions of hospital and doctor bills. It also give wrongfully or overcharged Illinois consumers a chance to dispute their bills.

Of course, even with these policy changes, there’s always a chance that some medical debt items will slip through the cracks and end up on credit reports prematurely. If the credit reporting agencies never made mistakes, everyone in Illinois would have perfect credit reports. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Errors on credit reports are incredibly common, and many of these mistakes are damaging to credit scores.

Luckily, if you have inaccuracies on your credit reports due to wrongful medical debt or anything else, help is available. Credit Repair Lawyers of America now offers FREE legal services in Illinois, and we are excited about bringing our experience and knowledge to the residents of the Prairie State.

The Free and Legal Way to Get Better Credit When Medical Bills Go to Collections

Don’t let errors or medical debt reporting mistakes on your credit reports bring your credit score down. At Credit Repair Lawyers of America, we’ve been cleaning up credit reports for consumers since 2008 for free. How do we do it? All of our fees come from the defendants in settled cases. This is why our clients pay nothing for the work we do.

Let’s start the conversation about what we can do for your credit. Set up your free consultation today by calling Attorney Gary Nitzkin at (404)591-6680 or sending him a message through our contact page.

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