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class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Medical debt in other countries</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Medical_debt_in_other_countries-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Medical_debt_in_bankruptcy" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Medical_debt_in_bankruptcy"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Medical debt in bankruptcy</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Medical_debt_in_bankruptcy-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Settlement_of_medical_debt" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Settlement_of_medical_debt"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Settlement of medical debt</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Settlement_of_medical_debt-sublist" class="cdx-button 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id="toc-Debt_negotiation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Debt_negotiation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Debt negotiation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Debt_negotiation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Debt_forgiveness" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Debt_forgiveness"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Debt forgiveness</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Debt_forgiveness-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Debt_consolidation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Debt_consolidation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Debt consolidation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Debt_consolidation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" 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</div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Debt incurred by individuals due to health care costs</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output 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class="mbox-text-span">The examples and perspective in this article <b>deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias">worldwide view</a> of the subject</b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> You may <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit">improve this article</a>, discuss the issue on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Medical_debt" title="Talk:Medical debt">talk page</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Article_wizard" title="Wikipedia:Article wizard">create a new article</a>, as appropriate.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">January 2019</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p> <b>Medical debt</b> refers to debt incurred by individuals due to <a href="/wiki/Health_care_costs" class="mw-redirect" title="Health care costs">health care costs</a> and related expenses, such as an ambulance ride or the cost of visiting a doctor. </p><p>Medical debt differs from other forms of debt because it is usually incurred accidentally or faultlessly. People do not plan to fall ill or hurt themselves, and healthcare remedies are often unavoidable; medical debt is often treated with more sympathy than other kinds of debt resulting in advice that people ought not try to convert it to <a href="/wiki/Credit_card_debt" title="Credit card debt">credit card debt</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="United_States">United States</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif/220px-Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif" decoding="async" width="220" height="229" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif/330px-Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif/440px-Medical_debt_in_USA._National_Health_Interview_Survey.gif 2x" data-file-width="674" data-file-height="701" /></a><figcaption>Percentages of persons in families with selected financial burdens of medical care: United States, January–June 2011. From <a href="/wiki/National_Health_Interview_Survey" title="National Health Interview Survey">National Health Interview Survey</a>.</figcaption></figure> <p>Medical debt is an especially notable phenomenon in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>. According to a 2019 poll from <a href="/wiki/Pew_Research_Center" title="Pew Research Center">the Pew Research center</a>, American citizens are much more worried about health care issues as a top public matter and concern, especially medical expenses, rather than the economy and terrorism.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In less developed nations those on low income in need of treatment will often avail themselves of whatever help they can from either the state or <a href="/wiki/Non-governmental_organization" title="Non-governmental organization">NGOs</a> without going into debt, and in most developed countries public coverage of healthcare costs are comprehensive. But in the US, even when the patient has insurance coverage, including coverage under the <a href="/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act" class="mw-redirect" title="Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act">Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act</a> of 2010, considerable medical costs remain the patient's responsibility. Consequently, medical debt has been found by a 2009 study to be the primary cause of personal <a href="/wiki/Bankruptcy_in_the_United_States" title="Bankruptcy in the United States">bankruptcy</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-CBS_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CBS-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One of the surveys that has been conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that the amount of debt incurred by individuals for health care costs is likely to cause personal bankruptcy. The study, which involved adults with employer-sponsored insurance, found that while 20% of those surveyed have been approached by agencies, almost 9% of people declared their bankruptcy due to the health expenses.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A 2007 survey found about 70 million Americans either have difficulty paying for medical treatment or have medical debt.<sup id="cite_ref-reuters_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reuters-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to research done in 2019, especially adults who are between 18–64 years and those lacking health insurance coverage are familiar with medical financial hardship in the US. <sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is estimated that up to 200 billion dollars of medical debt is owed in the United States; the state that owes the lowest amount of medical debt is Hawaii at 2.3% <sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><br /> Studies have found people are most likely to accumulate large medical debts when they do not have <a href="/wiki/Health_insurance" title="Health insurance">health insurance</a> to cover the costs of necessary <a href="/wiki/Medication" title="Medication">medications</a>, treatments, or procedures—in 2009 about 50 million Americans had no health coverage.<sup id="cite_ref-CBS_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-CBS-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, about 60% of those found to have medical debt were insured.<sup id="cite_ref-reuters_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reuters-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Health insurance plans rarely cover all health-related expenses; for insured people, the gap between insurance coverage and the affordability of health care manifests as medical debt. As with any type of debt, medical debt can lead to an array of personal and financial problems—including having to go without food and heat plus a reluctance to seek further medical treatment.<sup id="cite_ref-reuters_6-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reuters-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Aggressive debt collecting has been highlighted as an aggravating factor.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A study has found about 63% of adults with medical debt avoided further medical treatment, compared with only 19% of adults who had no such debt.<sup id="cite_ref-workingAge_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-workingAge-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In the United States, one of the largest concerns of medical debt stems from high medical costs.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-:0_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For example, in a 2011 study of fees paid to physicians for office visits and hip replacement procedures across the United States and several other wealthy countries, the patients in the United States paid 27% more for office visits and 70% more for hip replacement procedures.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Similarly, the United States charges an average of $75,345 for a heart bypass operation whereas the same operation in other wealthy countries, such as <a href="/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">the Netherlands</a> and <a href="/wiki/Switzerland" title="Switzerland">Switzerland</a>, costs $15,000 to $36,000 on average.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In general, data has shown that individuals in the United States pay nearly double the amount of money on healthcare in their lifetime than those in other wealthy countries.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As these healthcare costs continue to rise, a lack of insurance or insurance that does not cover all fees causes a rise in out-of-pocket expenses.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In addition, those with medical debts may increase in the future due to increasing patient cost-sharing and rising health care costs.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><br /> Medical debt is consuming Americans, in fact, it is the number one cause of bankruptcy, because more than 60% of Americans deplete their savings due to some unexpected healthcare cost. <sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One thing that seemed to help the extreme debt caused by medical issues was Obamacare. Obamacare was a program installed by past U.S. president, Barack Obama<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Obamacare aids Americans, by providing insurance to those that otherwise would not be able to afford it; it provides insurance to Americans who make under $16,000 USD a year. <sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><br /> According to a study conducted in 2012 by <a href="/wiki/Demos_(U.S._think_tank)" title="Demos (U.S. think tank)">Demos</a>, it was determined that among indebted households 62% cited out-of-pocket medical expenses as a contribution to their debt.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As these medical fees continue to rise and out-of-pocket expenses continue to grow, Americans are at much higher risk of falling into medical debt whether insured or not.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In May 2023, President Biden publicly discouraged all Americans from using medical credit cards to pay for their medical bills due to the credit cards' high interest rates.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Medical_debt_in_other_countries">Medical debt in other countries</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Medical debt in other countries"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The threat of unmanageable medical debts is less common for those in <a href="/wiki/Western_Europe" title="Western Europe">Western Europe</a>, <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a> and <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a>. A 2019 study of health provision carried out for <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times" title="Los Angeles Times">the <i>Los Angeles Times</i></a> reported in <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">the United Kingdom</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a>, <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>, <a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a> and <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a> about 2.8% of citizens struggled with high medical bills compared to about 16.6% of Americans.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the same year, a <a href="/wiki/World_Health_Organization" title="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</a> analysis of the spending of patients in 36 countries found that only 1 household in 90 in <a href="/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">the Netherlands</a> risked facing prohibitive medical expenses.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to another report by the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>, countries such as the United Kingdom and <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> that have state-funded health provision, and Germany and the Netherlands where private insurers have tight limits on the amount of patients may be charged, few people struggle to afford medical expenses. Research based on available data from 2018 indicated that the amount of unaffordable health care by individuals in the USA (7.4%) was considerably higher than European states such as France where only 1.9% of people faced concerns regarding medical bills, Germany (2.4%), the UK (1.4%), the Netherlands (1.1%), and non-European countries such as Australia (3.2%) and Japan (2.6%). The study found that although health care expenses are cheaper in other countries in comparison with the US, such countries faced difficulties such as overcrowding in UK hospitals and long waiting lists in Canada.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Medical_debt_in_bankruptcy">Medical debt in bankruptcy</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Medical debt in bankruptcy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Medical debt is considered as a non-priority unsecured debt in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In other words, medical debts are paid only after assets are applied to the debt of creditors who hold priority debt, and thus medical debts are often discharged in their entirety at the conclusion of the bankruptcy process. If the bankrupt estate has sufficient assets such that a part of the medical debt is repaid through bankruptcy, any remaining outstanding medical debt that is included in the bankruptcy case will be discharged. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Settlement_of_medical_debt">Settlement of medical debt</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Settlement of medical debt"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Public_programs">Public programs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Public programs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In order to tackle the issue, an advocacy organization, <a href="/wiki/Physicians_for_a_National_Health_Program" title="Physicians for a National Health Program">Physicians for a National Health Program</a> thinks of a special program which would enhance insurance coverage for Americans. Under that single-payer health care system, <a href="/wiki/Medicare_for_All" class="mw-redirect" title="Medicare for All">Medicare for All</a> is advocated for the resemblance of the health care services with that work in Canada, where all individuals are free to consult a doctor generally without paying a bill at all.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The survey has demonstrated that 56% of citizens supported that national plan in 2019.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Financial_assistance_by_organizations">Financial assistance by organizations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Financial assistance by organizations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The PAN Foundation is considered to be "an independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications" and the non-profit organization has provided approximately 1 million patients those are underinsured with a financial aid equaling to $3 billion since 2004.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Apart from that, the national organization "providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer", CancerCare has provided $39.7 million as a financial assistance to reportedly 24,767 people in order to help with treatment-related medical costs.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Debt_negotiation">Debt negotiation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Debt negotiation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>According to Dr. Marty Makary, the professor of health policy and management at <a href="/wiki/Johns_Hopkins_Bloomberg_School_of_Public_Health" title="Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health">Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Surgeon" title="Surgeon">surgeon</a> at <a href="/wiki/Johns_Hopkins_Hospital" title="Johns Hopkins Hospital">the Johns Hopkins Hospital</a>, <a href="/wiki/Debt_negotiation" class="mw-redirect" title="Debt negotiation">debt negotiation</a> is achievable before, during and after the health care services in the process of a high costing of medical expenses.<sup id="cite_ref-Konish_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Konish-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On the other hand, the issue of inaccuracy is common in the health care sector related to the price of services and in case of any inaccuracy is better to be reviewed before the negotiation process. Dr. Carolyn McClanahan, the founder and director of financial planning at Life Planning Partners, says that patients should double-check whether they received all the services for which they are billed. America's Debt Help Organization encourages patients to check the medical bills for the common mistakes such as double billing, fraudulent charges and coding (typo) errors with the insurance company as the first course of action before going into the debt negotiation process.<sup id="cite_ref-Konish_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Konish-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Debt_forgiveness">Debt forgiveness</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Debt forgiveness"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 2016 John Oliver forgave $14.9 million of medical debt on his <i>Last Week Tonight</i> show. The debt was purchased for just $60,000 through a company named "Central Asset Recovery Professionals" (or CARP, a pun on the bottom feeding fish) which Oliver said had cost just $50 to create. After the purchase he reportedly received a portfolio offering the names, current addresses and Social Security numbers of about 9,000 people which was sent to the RIP Medical Debt organization in order to have the debt forgiven.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2018, two local women from the <a href="/wiki/Finger_Lakes" title="Finger Lakes">Finger Lakes</a> region in <a href="/wiki/New_York_(state)" title="New York (state)">New York</a> partnered with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt after fundraising for the purpose of <a href="/wiki/Debt_collection#Sale_of_debts" title="Debt collection">debt collection</a> for debt forgiveness. The nonprofit looks for bundled packages of debt from first or third party agencies which the group negotiates to purchase at discounted prices (pennies on the dollar). The two women initially raised $12,500 and used this money to purchase $1.5 million of medical debt through RIP Medical Debt, which was then forgiven.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Debt_consolidation">Debt consolidation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Debt consolidation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Debt_consolidation" title="Debt consolidation">Debt consolidation</a> may be an option for those who carry medical debt on credit cards, by providing a reduced interest rate.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Private_medical_debt_statistics" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Private medical debt statistics">Private medical debt statistics</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Charge_description_master" class="mw-redirect" title="Charge description master">Charge description master</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Financial_toxicity" title="Financial toxicity">Financial toxicity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="Health care in the United States">Health care in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Health_economics" title="Health economics">Health economics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Health_insurance" title="Health insurance">Health insurance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Underinsured" title="Underinsured">Underinsured</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Citations">Citations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Citations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFAlderman2009" class="citation news cs1">Alderman, Lesley (June 5, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/25/health/25patient.html?_r=1">"When Medical Bills Outpace Your Means, Seize Control Swiftly"</a>. <i><a 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 6,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.nytimes.com&rft.atitle=For+His+Latest+Trick%2C+John+Oliver+Forgives+%2415+Million+in+Medical+Debt&rft.date=2016-06-06&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2016%2F06%2F07%2Farts%2Ftelevision%2Ffor-his-latest-trick-john-oliver-forgives-15-million-in-medical-debt.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMedical+debt" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBump2018" class="citation web cs1">Bump, Bethany (December 3, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/If-you-got-this-letter-your-medical-debt-has-13435401.php">"Upstate NYers medical debt mysteriously paid off"</a>. <i>www.timesunion.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 3,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.timesunion.com&rft.atitle=Upstate+NYers+medical+debt+mysteriously+paid+off&rft.date=2018-12-03&rft.aulast=Bump&rft.aufirst=Bethany&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesunion.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FIf-you-got-this-letter-your-medical-debt-has-13435401.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMedical+debt" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRyan,_Joan_S.2012" class="citation book cs1">Ryan, Joan S. (2012). <i>Personal financial literacy</i> (2nd ed.). Mason, Ohio: South-Western/Cengage. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8400-5829-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8400-5829-4"><bdi>978-0-8400-5829-4</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/755108694">755108694</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Personal+financial+literacy&rft.place=Mason%2C+Ohio&rft.edition=2nd&rft.pub=South-Western%2FCengage&rft.date=2012&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F755108694&rft.isbn=978-0-8400-5829-4&rft.au=Ryan%2C+Joan+S.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMedical+debt" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sources">Sources</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Sources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKlozotsky2013" class="citation web cs1">Klozotsky, Michael (April 23, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130616064216/http://www.insidepatientfinance.com/revenue-cycle-news/oklahoma-governor-signs-medical-debt-collection-bill/">"Oklahoma Governor Signs Medical Debt Collection Bill"</a>. <i>InsideARM.com</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.insidepatientfinance.com/revenue-cycle-news/oklahoma-governor-signs-medical-debt-collection-bill/">the original</a> on June 16, 2013.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=InsideARM.com&rft.atitle=Oklahoma+Governor+Signs+Medical+Debt+Collection+Bill&rft.date=2013-04-23&rft.aulast=Klozotsky&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidepatientfinance.com%2Frevenue-cycle-news%2Foklahoma-governor-signs-medical-debt-collection-bill%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMedical+debt" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLucas_Phillips2020" class="citation cs2">Lucas Phillips (October 25, 2020), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/25/metro/new-england-churches-buy-up-forgive-262-million-medical-debt/">"New England churches buy up, forgive $26.2 million in medical debt"</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/Boston_Globe" class="mw-redirect" title="Boston Globe">Boston Globe</a></i>, US</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Boston+Globe&rft.atitle=New+England+churches+buy+up%2C+forgive+%2426.2+million+in+medical+debt&rft.date=2020-10-25&rft.au=Lucas+Phillips&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonglobe.com%2F2020%2F10%2F25%2Fmetro%2Fnew-england-churches-buy-up-forgive-262-million-medical-debt%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AMedical+debt" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl 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.navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Medical_harm" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" 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href="/wiki/Adverse_effect" title="Adverse effect">Adverse effect</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patient_abuse" title="Patient abuse">Patient abuse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Never_event" title="Never event">Never event</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Economic and financial concerns</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Medical debt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Balance_billing" title="Balance billing">Balance billing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Financial_toxicity" title="Financial toxicity">Financial toxicity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prescription_drug_prices_in_the_United_States" title="Prescription drug prices in the United States">Prescription drug prices in the United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Political abuse</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Drapetomania" title="Drapetomania">Drapetomania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sluggish_schizophrenia" title="Sluggish schizophrenia">Sluggish schizophrenia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization" title="Compulsory sterilization">Compulsory sterilization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Physician_gag_law" title="Physician gag law">Physician gag law</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/The_Protest_Psychosis" title="The Protest Psychosis">The Protest Psychosis</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry" title="Political abuse of psychiatry">Political abuse of psychiatry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="Political abuse of psychiatry in the United States">Political abuse of psychiatry in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry_in_Russia" title="Political abuse of psychiatry in Russia">Political abuse of psychiatry in Russia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Related concerns</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Adverse_drug_reaction" title="Adverse drug reaction">Adverse drug reaction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hospital-acquired_pneumonia" title="Hospital-acquired pneumonia">Hospital-acquired pneumonia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hospital-acquired_infection" title="Hospital-acquired infection">Hospital-acquired infection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Iatrogenic_anemia" title="Iatrogenic anemia">Iatrogenic anemia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hand_washing" title="Hand washing">Hand washing</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:center;;width:1%">Records and histories</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Drug_pollution" title="Drug pollution">Drug pollution</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_medicine_contamination_incidents" title="List of medicine contamination incidents">List</a>)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Debt" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Debt" title="Template:Debt"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Debt" title="Template talk:Debt"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Debt" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Debt"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Debt" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Debt" title="Debt">Debt</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Instruments</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Bond_(finance)" title="Bond (finance)">Bonds</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Corporate_bond" title="Corporate bond">Corporate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debenture" title="Debenture">Debenture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Government_bond" title="Government bond">Government</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Municipal_bond" title="Municipal bond">Municipal</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Loan" title="Loan">Loans</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Business_loan" title="Business loan">Business loan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Credit" title="Credit">Consumer lending</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loan_shark" title="Loan shark">Loan shark</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Payday_loan" title="Payday loan">Payday loan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Predatory_lending" title="Predatory lending">Predatory lending</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Usury" title="Usury">Usury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vendor_finance" title="Vendor finance">Vendor finance</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Management</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bankruptcy" title="Bankruptcy">Bankruptcy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_consolidation" title="Debt consolidation">Consolidation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_management_plan" title="Debt management plan">Management plan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_relief" title="Debt relief">Relief</a> (<a href="/wiki/History_of_debt_relief" title="History of debt relief">history</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_restructuring" title="Debt restructuring">Restructuring</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_snowball_method" title="Debt snowball method">Debt snowball method</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debtor-in-possession_financing" title="Debtor-in-possession financing">Debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loan_guarantee" title="Loan guarantee">Loan guarantee</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Debt_collection" title="Debt collection">Collection</a> <b>·</b> <a href="/wiki/Debt_evasion" title="Debt evasion">Evasion</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bad_debt" title="Bad debt">Bad debt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charge-off" title="Charge-off">Charge-off</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_compliance" title="Debt compliance">Compliance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_bondage" title="Debt bondage">Debt bondage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debtors%27_prison" title="Debtors' prison">Debtors' prison</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Distraint" title="Distraint">Distraint</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Garnishment" title="Garnishment">Garnishment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phantom_debt" title="Phantom debt">Phantom debt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_default" title="Strategic default">Strategic default</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tax_refund_interception" title="Tax refund interception">Tax refund interception</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Bond_market" title="Bond market">Markets</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Consumer_debt" title="Consumer debt">Consumer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Corporate_bond" title="Corporate bond">Corporate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt-trap_diplomacy" title="Debt-trap diplomacy">Diplomacy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Government_debt" title="Government debt">Government</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Government_budget_balance" title="Government budget balance">Government budget balance</a></li></ul></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Medical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Municipal_bond" title="Municipal bond">Municipal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venture_debt" title="Venture debt">Venture</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_buyer_(United_States)" title="Debt buyer (United States)">Buyer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deposit_account" title="Deposit account">Deposit account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fixed_income" title="Fixed income">Fixed income</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Money_market" title="Money market">Money market</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Securitization" title="Securitization">Securitization</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Economics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Consumer_leverage_ratio" title="Consumer leverage ratio">Consumer leverage ratio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt_levels_and_flows" title="Debt levels and flows">Debt levels and flows</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/External_debt" title="External debt">External</a> / <a href="/wiki/Internal_debt" title="Internal debt">Internal</a> / <a href="/wiki/Odious_debt" title="Odious debt">Odious debt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Debt-to-GDP_ratio" title="Debt-to-GDP ratio">Debt-to-GDP ratio</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_countries_by_government_debt" title="List of countries by government debt">List of countries by government debt</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Default_(finance)" title="Default (finance)">Default</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insolvency" title="Insolvency">Insolvency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interest" title="Interest">Interest</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interest_rate" title="Interest rate">Interest rate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Promissory_note" title="Promissory note">Promissory note</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&oldid=1242973004">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Medical_debt&oldid=1242973004</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Debt" title="Category:Debt">Debt</a></li><li><a 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