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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How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Affect Credit
It amazes me every time I hear someone with high debt ponder the effect of bankruptcy on a credit report What good is A-1 credit if you are drowning in debt? It is nothing more than a total denial of the debt situation For example, since the credit rating is good, some believe that the debt load is under control However, those persons are not looking at the big picture Debt is still debt despite a good credit rating or credit score In fact, someone carrying high debt is less likely to receive future credit than one who clears the table and starts over Eventually, the one who starts over is better off . .It is true that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing stays on a credit report for ten years However, that person can receive future credit long before that ten year period has expired In fact, credit can be obtained within six months to two years after filing bankruptcy I have received feedback from hundreds of prior chapter seven filers who were receiving credit solicitations before their case had even gone to discharge Although those recent offers were likely bad deals, the offers still were made As more time passes from the filing until the attempt at credit, the better the credit offer will be It also factors on whether the person has good income and no negative credit since their bankruptcy filing To think that one would not have an offer of credit for ten years is simply wrong .
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Bankruptcy Around the World
Wherever you go in the world, finance is a language that is spoken fluently by some, and a completely indecipherable one for others There is such a wide range of topics connected with finance that a strong command of rules, regulations and options coupled with an ability to recognize money-making opportunities can bestow real purchase power upon an individual However, the world of finance is so fast-moving that if you take your eye off the situation for even a moment, you can end up in serious difficulties No matter where you are in the world, the circumstances that lead to bankruptcy exist And where the circumstances exist, so does the practice Just like in America, people go bankrupt all over the world Many of the practices are much the same - but there are some differences . .In Australia, for example, the process of filing for bankruptcy is largely similar to that in the United States You can commence proceedings yourself, or it can be the subject of a petition from a creditor looking to realize some of their asset - your bad debt - before you become a “won’t pay” customer However, a bankruptcy term in Australia is three years, but with the potential to pay it out If, before the three-year period is up, you can pay the debts off in full the bankruptcy will be annulled This encourages individuals to see bankruptcy as an opportunity to learn sound financial practice It is also possible to raise an Offer of Composition, which pays each creditor a certain percentage of what they are owed If they accept the settlement, the bankruptcy can again be annulled . .In Canada, it is possible to file a consumer proposal as an alternative to bankruptcy if your debt amounts to more than $5,000 and less than $75,000 The higher figure does not include the mortgage on the debtor’s home For debts larger than $75,000, it is necessary to file for bankruptcy under which there are additional rules and requirements, which include the appointment of a “Proposal Administrator” who is given the task of overseeing the debt to ensure that it is fully analyzed In many cases, creditors will choose to accept the consumer proposal even though it generally entails paying a reduced amount, because they will receive less under bankruptcy rules . .In the United Kingdom the Enterprise Act of 2002 made it possible for a bankruptcy to last less than 12 months This has led to a larger number of people filing for bankruptcy and a suspicion that many of those filing are people for whom bankruptcy is simply another financial service However, the banks themselves are markedly reluctant to lend money to a recently bankrupt individual, and in most cases it will take six years for bankruptcy to roll off an individual’s credit record, making it virtually impossible to get credit on anything resembling reasonable terms While some lenders have begun to offer loans and credit cards at prohibitive rates of interest, individuals are strongly discouraged from taking them . .Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter .
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