Do Health Care Debts Affect Bankruptcy Chapter Filing Choices?

摘要

Over the past decade, the popular press has explored the public's ability to pay for necessary, but extremely expensive, health care services. The argument commonly made is that individuals who either develop chronic diseases or those who experience severe, acute conditions cannot afford to pay for the care that they need to sustain a reasonable quality of life. Many opt for treatment despite the cost and, ultimately, some households are forced to declare bankruptcy. Concurrently, other increases in debts have caused a consistent and significant rise in consumer bankruptcy filings over the past decade. The majority were chapter 7 filers, who receive a general discharge with no repayment to creditors. A relatively small portion of individuals filed under Chapter 13, where the availability of a general discharge is limited.