Right now, medical debt is a huge problem for middle- and working-class consumers in Georgia and throughout the country. In fact, a study from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reveals that 20% of Georgia residents have at least one medical debt collection item on their credit reports. Also, more than half of all debt collection items on credit reports are medical debts. It is easy to see that finding a solution to the high cost of health care in Georgia could increase credit scores state-wide. However, lawmakers struggle with making affordable health insurance accessible to everyone. This coupled with rising medical costs makes a lot of Georgia residents worry about the future.
How Medical Debt Brings Down Credit Scores in Georgia
Even Georgia consumers covered by health insurance are not immune from medical debt. Unfortunately, even good healthcare coverage doesn’t always cover expensive treatments and hospital stays. Also, there are circumstances in which Georgia patients are surprised by insurance quirks and surprises.
For example, a Georgia resident may go to a hospital within her insurance provider’s network. However, a radiologist who is not in the network does her x-rays. Therefore, she must pay the full cost of the x-rays out of pocket.
Another likely scenario involves a Georgia resident whose healthcare plan through his employer comes with a cost-sharing requirement. Everything is fine if needs medical treatment after making his entire contribution. Yet, he needs emergency surgery at the beginning of the year, before making a cost-sharing payment. So, sadly he faces a hefty hospital bill.
Often, when middle- or working-class Georgia consumers incur unplanned medical expenses, it throws their finances for a loop. Unless they have an emergency fund to cover the extra costs, their medical bills may go unpaid. Eventually, this medical debt goes to debt collections and onto their credit reports as negative items. Their credit scores drop, and they face calls and letters from debt collectors. Indeed, no Georgia residents wants the problems created by overdue medical debt. However, statistics show that far too many people in the Peach State struggle with these issues every day.
How Georgia Consumers Should Deal with Abusive Medical Debt Collectors
One of the many issues faced by Georgia consumers burdened with medical debt involves medical debt collectors. Sometimes, even Georgia residents who actually don’t owe anything toward medical expenses are harassed by abusive debt collectors.
A new credit reporting rule that went into effect in September of 2017 was created to help patients in Georgia and in other states. Now, medical debt may not appear on credit reports until it is at least six months old. This gives insurance companies time to pay their portions and consumers time to dispute medical billing errors.
In addition, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects Georgia residents wrongfully contacted by debt collectors, as well as those who are harassed. The truth is that, even if a consumer owes money, under the FDCPA, debt collectors may not engage in abusive tactics. For example, they may not call you at all hours, belittle, or use harsh language with you. Also, if you ask them, in writing, to stop calling, they must comply.
Yet, if debt collectors call in spite of your requests, or make you feel uncomfortable in any way, call Credit Repair Lawyers of America. When you contact our firm, an experienced FDCPA attorney will stop the debt collector harassment – for FREE. In addition, if medical debt shows up on your credit reports in error, we can get these items removed. This is another service that costs our clients nothing out of pocket.
The Free and Legal way to End Debt Collector Harassment
Being harassed by debt collectors is bad enough, but when incorrect collections make it on to your credit reports and bring your credit score down, that’s even worse. 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.
For more information about Free Legal Help with Debt Collector Harassment, please visit https://creditrepairlawyersam.com/stop-debt-collectors/.
