What is Nekia Clark's experience with medical debt?

Nekia Clark accumulated $10,000 in medical debt after breast cancer treatment, leading to aggressive debt collection calls that affected her credit and mental health.

What does the proposed Massachusetts bill aim to do?

The Massachusetts bill seeks to ban the sale of medical debt, reduce the maximum interest rate on such debt to 3%, and prohibit it from being included in credit reports.

Why is a bill being introduced regarding medical debt?

The bill is inspired by patients like Nekia Clark who faced severe financial and emotional distress due to medical debt, even with insurance, prompting a need for more compassionate collection practices.

Home / Health / Cancer Patient's Debt Nightmare Spurs New Law

Cancer Patient's Debt Nightmare Spurs New Law

18 Feb

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Summary

Nekia Clark faced $10,000 in medical debt after cancer treatment.
Debt collection calls severely impacted her credit and mental health.
Proposed bill bans medical debt sale and limits interest rates.

Cancer Patient's Debt Nightmare Spurs New Law

A new bill in Massachusetts aims to shield individuals from the severe consequences of medical debt, following the challenging experience of Nekia Clark. Clark, a single mother diagnosed with breast cancer, accumulated $10,000 in medical bills despite having insurance. She endured aggressive debt collection calls that negatively impacted her credit and emotional well-being.

Clark's situation is not unique, as many Massachusetts residents struggle with medical debt. Inspired by her own and her mother's experiences, Clark is now advocating for legislative reform. State Senator John Cronin is sponsoring a bill that proposes to prohibit the sale of medical debt to third-party buyers.

The legislation also seeks to reduce the maximum interest rate on medical debt from 12% to 3%. Furthermore, it aims to prevent medical debt from being reported on credit reports, offering a significant reprieve to patients already undergoing arduous medical treatments and seeking to rebuild their financial lives.

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