Emergency care and medical debt: Is it dischargeable in bankruptcy?

The story involves a man that required urgent care. The only way to get the treatment he needed was to receive transportation through the use of an air ambulance transport service.

Is the cost of ambulance transportation covered? Unfortunately, even if a patient has medical insurance, not all the medical costs needed for care may be covered. As a result, the answer to this question depends on the language of your insurance policy and the details of the situation.

In some circumstances, a ride in an ambulance may not qualify for coverage. This can leave the patient left to cover the cost. If that emergency transport involved air travel, such as in an air ambulance like a helicopter, the cost left to the patient could translate to a bill of almost $30,000.

In the story noted above, the man’s insurance policy did not cover the cost of transportation for a number of reasons. As a result, he was left with a bill of approximately $27,000.

What can I do if I can’t manage my medical debt? Those who are struggling with medical debt have options. One option is to seek relief through bankruptcy.

In many cases, medical debt qualifies for discharge through bankruptcy. This means the debt would essentially be forgiven. There are different types of relief available through bankruptcy, but the most common for individuals struggling with this form of debt are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

These two forms of bankruptcy offer different benefits and should be discussed with an attorney. Legal counsel can review the details of your situation and help you choose the best option for a fresh financial start.