10 ways to protect your self from bankruptcy caused by prolonged illness.
Accidents and prolonged sickness can be a drain both emotionally as well as financially. Sometimes money crunch is caused by the inability to hold a job, or when the medical bills escalate and it becomes increasingly difficult to balance expenses. Further, medical insurance may prove insufficient or will not cover long term medications. Life has become such that one needs to think about and plan for any eventuality. Experts recommend the following: 1. Ask your doctor for samples of medication. 2. Often an older drug is effective and cheaper. Request the doctor to write a prescription for a drug that is more affordable. According to studies you can save up to 75% this way. 3. Find out the generic name of the medication and choose to purchase it instead of branded medication —the saving can amount to as much as 70%. 4. Very often companies sell higher dosages of medication for a marginally higher cost. Be prudent, buy the higher dosage and spilt the medication in half, one-third, or quarters. The savings you can make are almost 50 %. 5. Order 90-day supplies in bulk from discount mail order pharmacies or online services. The savings are considerable and many doctors help long term patients reduce costs by putting the patients in touch with distributors. 6. If a particular medication is very expensive ask the doctor to recommend a substitute. This is known as therapeutic substitution. 7. Do try comparison shopping. You will find that the same medication is priced differently in local pharmacies, online outlets, and chain stores. Online pharmacies like http://www.walgreens.com/, www.costco.com , or http://www.drugstore.com/ offer medications at affordable prices. 8. There are several patient-assistance programs that offer free or discounted medication to those who cannot afford long term illness. Companies like Merck have programs that benefit uninsured patients. Medicines are given at discounts of 10-40%. 9. If you or a family member travels frequently you could buy your medicines abroad. Often the same medicine manufactured by the same company is much cheaper overseas. One can also order medicine by mail from Canada where medicines cost 30-50% less than the US. But do check the laws before you attempt this. 10. Start a health saving account where you can save pre tax dollars towards unforeseen medical expenses. This has a high deductible. Find out if you or other family members are eligible. Use an insurance broker who always thinks of you. He must keep you updated on all new developments as far as health schemes are concerned and make sure you reap all the benefits of the insurance scheme. You could also consider a critical illness policy in addition to a regular health insurance. Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/home-improvement/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Home Improvements Forum including topics on buying, selling and insuring, automobile, electronics and more. He also freelances for submit free press release http://www.1888PressRelease.com/Legal-0-23.html
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Why Should I File for Bankruptcy?
Financial problems these days are very common and you shouldn’t be ashamed of admitting your too far into debt. Outstanding debts can occur in a variety of different ways. You could be swamped with overwhelming medical bills, laid off from work, or worse. Financial troubles loom everywhere, but luckily theres still one way out If your in too deep. Knowing when and when not to file a bankruptcy can sometimes be tricky, but maybe I can help. If your just overwhelmed with debt and can no longer pay then bankruptcy is definately an option for you. When you file a bankruptcy to wipe your debt completely clean its called a ‘discharge of debt’. Discharging your debt will start you over with a clean slate. It doesn’t matter if you file a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy both will wipe most, if not all, of your debt out. If you can no longer pay your mortgage and your house is up for foreclosure then bankruptcy is a viable option for you. A bankruptcy can help stop the sale of your house, but it will not wipe out the debt owed on your current mortgage. What a bankruptcy will do for your mortgage is help create a repayment plan for the payments your behind on. A bankruptcy can also help keep your car and various other pocessions from being repossed. If your car has been repossed already by the bank, a bankruptcy can force the bank to give you back your car. Unfortunately this is only the case if you file the bankruptcy quickly enough after your car is repossessed. Any debt you own for these items will then be consolidated into a ‘bankruptcy plan’. A bankruptcy plan means, that a bankruptcy trustee will be directly responsible for your debt, and all your payments will be paid to them instead of to the finance company. A bankruptcy plan is made to be in your best interest. If you plan to file a bankruptcy because of medical bills then that may be a good option. Whether you were in the hospital for a major illness, or from a car wreck, or whatever, sometimes your medical bills can pile up to an exponential amount. If you can no longer afford to pay these bills then a bankruptcy can dramatically reduce your medical bill debt. One of the major reasons people file bankruptcy is because loss of work. People easily become comfortable with their spending habits at the income their making. Sometimes the unthinkable occurs and you lose your job. The bills can quickly pile up. Often times this is compounded with medical bills also since a lot of people can no longer work because of medical reasons. If you have an incredible amount of debt, don’t be afraid to ask for a little help. Filing a bankruptcy can repair your financial burdens and get you back on your feet.'<a href="http://nicholasf.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/why-should-i-file-for-bankruptcy">Why Should I File for Bankruptcy?</a>' was brought to you by Legal Forms Bank .Biz where you can download 'do-it-yourself' <a href="http://www.legalformsbank.biz">legal forms online</a>. They help average people just like you to file for <a href="http://www.legalformsbank.biz/bankruptcy.asp">Personal Bankruptcy</a>.
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Debtor's Rights - Credit Report
A bad credit report can prevent you from obtaining credit. If you have trouble obtaining credit, it might be because a credit agency has issued a bad report on you. You might be able to obtain a copy of your report and -if it contains false information - get it corrected. Can I see my credit report? If you are denied credit, you are entitled to a free copy of the consumer credit report that formed the basis of the denial. The creditor is required to tell you the name of the credit reporting agency that prepared the report on you. You must request a copy of your credit report from the agency within sixty days of the denial. The three major credit reporting agencies are: Experian, (800) 301-7195 Equifax, (800) 525-6285 Trans Union, (800) 680-7289 When the creditor tells you the name of the reporting agency that furnished the report, call them to find out their address. Then write a letter to the agency requesting a copy of your report. Even if you have not been denied credit, it is probably a good idea to check your credit report for accuracy periodically. They often contain mistakes, and when you want to get a loan, you may not have time to correct them. Because you haven’t been denied credit, the report isn’t free. The credit reporting agency is allowed to charge you no more than $8.00 for a copy of your report. What information is in a credit report? In general, your credit report will contain information about your credit history during the last seven years. It will show: Whomyou have borrowed money from The amount of the debt Whether or not you made the promised payment on time and in full The identity of any creditor who has requested information about you If you file bankruptcy, the information remains on your credit report for ten years. What if my credit report is incorrect? You have a legal right to challenge the completeness and accuracy of any item in the report. Write a letter to the credit reporting agency explaining that some of the information in the report is incomplete or inaccurate. The agency must investigate your claim - without charge - within thirty days. The agency is required to delete any information that is inaccurate or whose accuracy cannot be verified. If the credit reporting agency’s investigation does not resolve the dispute, you have the right to send the agency a brief statement (generally 100 words or fewer) explaining your position. Your statement will become a part of your credit report and will be disclosed to creditors together with the other information in your file. If you believe a credit reporting agency has violated your rights, contact the Federal Trade Commission or see a lawyer who specializes in consumer rights. Henry Dahut. Please Visit Us at www.GotTrouble.com
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