Discharging Dental Debt in Bankruptcy
Many Floridians know how expensive health care can be, especially surgical procedures, treatments for chronic or life-threatening diseases, and hospital stays. Yet when most of us think about unexpected and costly medical bills, we are not thinking about dental care. However, dental procedures can be extremely expensive, and many Americans do not properly budget for them. Moreover, when a dental emergency arises, you may go into a significant amount of debt. If you are struggling with dental debt, is this something you can have discharged in a personal bankruptcy filing? Generally speaking, as a form of unsecured, nonpriority debt, like other forms of medical debt, dental debt can be eligible for discharge in a personal bankruptcy filing. Our South Florida bankruptcy lawyers can explain in more detail.
High Costs of Dental Care and Dental Procedures
Dental care and dental procedures are more expensive than you might think. In addition, many health insurance plans do not include dental — individuals often must purchase supplemental dental insurance in order to have any portion of their dental care or procedures covered. Even with dental insurance, costs can be very high.
According to Humana, procedures such as dental crowns, root canals, dentures, and dental implants can cost thousands of dollars per tooth. Some procedures also require oral surgery, which can be very costly. All of these procedures are considered “major services,” and while you may be able to plan for some, others may require emergency attention. According to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 40 percent of adults report that they have medical or dental debt, and many have charged dental bills to credit cards in order to cover the costs.
Discharging Dental Debt in Your Bankruptcy Filing
Whether you are considering a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 reorganization bankruptcy, you may be able to have your dental debt discharged.
This type of debt is commonly discharged in personal bankruptcy Chapter 7 filings. In addition, though Chapter 13 bankruptcies require the debtor to repay their secured and priority debts, many unsecured, nonpriority debts are still eligible for discharge at the end of the bankruptcy case — this includes medical and dental debt, as well as any medical or dental debt that you may have charged to a credit card.
Contact Our West Palm Beach Bankruptcy Lawyers Today to Learn More About Discharging Dental and Medical Debt in Bankruptcy
Medical debt is a common burden for consumers in Florida and throughout the country, and there are often discussions about discharging medical debt in bankruptcy. Yet dental debt can also reach staggering numbers, and Floridians can struggle to repay the dental debt they owe. It is important to know that, like other forms of medical debt, dental debt can often be discharged in a personal bankruptcy filing as a form of unsecured, nonpriority debt. To find out more about your eligibility to have your dental debt discharged in addition to other forms of debt you are struggling with, you should reach out to one of the experienced West Palm Beach bankruptcy attorneys at Kelley Kaplan Delaney & Eller, PLLC to discuss your financial circumstances. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you.
Source:
kff.org/health-costs/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/
