Many things can lead to families facing financial struggles. This includes medical emergencies.

Suffering a major injury or developing a significant illness can result in large medical bills building up. An example of this can be seen in a recent news article that discussed the large out-of-pocket costs that can come up for patients in connection to cutting-edge precision cancer treatments.

The medical debt coming out of a major illness or injury can sometimes prove overwhelming for a family. It is important to note though that there are tools out there for helping families get back on their feet in the face of overwhelming medical bills or other debt struggles.

One such tool is bankruptcy. There are various ways a personal bankruptcy could help families who are facing high medical debt.

In some cases, bankruptcy could help with erasing such debt. One type of personal bankruptcy, Chapter 7, allows for the discharge of certain kinds of debt. Medical debt is typically dischargeable in such a bankruptcy.

In other cases, bankruptcy could help with making medical debt more manageable. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, another type of personal bankruptcy, debt (including medical debt) can be reorganized through a repayment plan.

Now, how well-suited the different debt relief options, including bankruptcy options, out there would be for a family facing high medical bills depends on the circumstances. So, when people end up facing overwhelming medical debt, it can be wise for them to promptly reach out to a skilled bankruptcy attorney for guidance on their options.