Bankruptcy is a legal reset, not a loophole and not a shortcut. For some people, it’s the right move. For a lot of people, it’s the wrong move too early. Here’s the real breakdown. 📂 The two bankruptcies that matter Chapter 7 – Debt Discharge This is the “wipe most unsecured debt” option. Best for: - Low income or income below your state’s median - Few assets to protect What it wipes: - Credit cards - Personal loans - Medical bills - Old utility bills What it does NOT wipe: - Student loans (almost always) - Child support / alimony - Most recent taxes - Court fines Timeline: - About 3–4 months Credit impact: - Shows on credit for 10 years - Credit score drops first, then can rebuild Chapter 13 – Repayment Plan This is the “structured recovery” option. Best for: - Steady income - Assets you want to keep (house, car) - Behind on payments but still earning How it works: - Court-approved 3–5 year payment plan - One monthly payment to a trustee - Remaining eligible debt discharged at the end Credit impact: - Shows on credit for 7 years - Less severe than Chapter 7 🛑 What bankruptcy immediately stops Once filed, an automatic stay goes into effect: - Lawsuits stop - Garnishments stop - Collections stop - Foreclosures pause This is one of the biggest reasons people file. ⚠️ The real downsides (not fear-mongering) - Public record - Harder approvals early on - Higher interest rates at first - Some landlords and employers will care - It stays on your report even after you rebuild This isn’t “free.” 🧠 When bankruptcy actually makes sense Bankruptcy is usually the right move when: - Lawsuits or judgments are active - Wages are being garnished - Minimum payments are impossible - Income can’t realistically support the debt - Stress is killing productivity and focus At that point, it’s about protecting cash flow and sanity. ❌ When bankruptcy is usually a mistake Bankruptcy is often the wrong move when:

A lot of people panic over medical bills and assume their credit is cooked. In most cases, that’s not true. Medical debt follows different rules than credit cards or loans. Here’s what you need to know. ✅ Medical bills do NOT show up right away Medical debt cannot be reported to your credit until it’s been 12 months past due. That window exists to allow: - Insurance to process - Billing errors to be fixed - Appeals and adjustments If you just got a medical bill or recently missed payments, it should not be on your credit report yet. 🚫 Medical collections under $500 do NOT report Any medical debt under $500: - Will not appear on your credit report - Even if it goes to collections - Even if it’s legitimate This rule applies per individual account. 🧾 Paid medical collections are deleted If a medical collection does appear and you later pay it: - It must be completely removed from your credit report - Not just marked “paid” This applies to old and new accounts. ❗ Only unpaid medical collections over $500 can appear For medical debt to show on your credit report, all of the following must be true: - It is medical (hospital, ER, lab, ambulance, etc.) - The balance is over $500 - It is unpaid - It is 12+ months old - It has been sent to collections If even one of these isn’t true, it should not be reporting. 🧠 Important: Medical debt is treated differently Credit scoring models treat medical debt as: - Less predictive of risk - More forgivable - Easier to correct or remove This is why medical debt is often fixable without bankruptcy. ⚠️ When medical debt becomes serious Medical debt is only a major problem when: - Lawsuits have been filed - Wages are being garnished - Balances are extremely high - Collections are aggressive and active Even then, bankruptcy is not automatically the right move. 📌 Bottom line Most people do not need bankruptcy for medical bills. In many cases: - The debt shouldn’t be reporting - Or it can be removed once paid - Or it can be corrected through disputes