Medical Debt Can Ruin Credit

Did you know that medical debt can ruin a consumer’s credit? Some people believe that medical debt is excluded from the credit calculation, or they don’t even think about the unintended consequences of medical debt. Yet every year millions of people find themselves faced with medical debt collectors or medical debts that are long term and too high to ever pay off.

In an article that appeared in the Dallas Morning News (25-October-2009) there is a story about Gayle and Steve Smith. Mr. Smith had a heart attack during a period when he was uninsured. The couple found themselves with a $70,000 debt and no way to pay it. Eventually the hospital reduced its share of the bill but not before the account went to collection.

Now the couple are consumer advocates with a cause. The

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