When major media outlets need the perspective of a personal finance expert, they call Howard.
By: Aly Yale | Source: Money Watch
“A counselor gives you an in-depth debt analysis over the phone,” says Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “There’s no obligation, and you hang up knowing all your options and — most importantly — creating an accurate monthly budget.”
By: Matt Sczesny | Source: WPTV
“Actually, 50% of all marriages fail, and the No. 1 reason is financial pressure,” Dvorkin said. “I can’t tell you how many times I get a letter on a monthly basis or an email, (saying) ‘thank you for saving my family, thank you for saving my marriage, thank you for saving my life.'”
By: Pete Grieve | Source: Money
“Can they get the money out of you? Not really. Is it annoying? Yes,” Dvorkin says.
By: Megan DeMatteo | Source: Sherwood News
“Most medical debt results from a single serious illness or condition,” Dvorkin said. For someone who normally pays bills on time and has disposable income, medical debt on their record could be “distorting their actual creditworthiness.”
By: Alisa Wolfson | Source: Market Watch
It also may be — depending on the details of your situation — that you want to declare bankruptcy, says certified public accountant (CPA), Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “Bankruptcy was created just for these situations, when good people are stuck in a bad place. In this instance, it doesn’t matter how diligent you are and how hard you’re willing to work to get out of debt. The blunt truth is that your physical body and your financial situation cannot be overcome by sheer force of will. You need to speak with a bankruptcy attorney,” says Dvorkin.
By: Terry Lane | Source: Investopedia
“Medical debt doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s quite likely that doctor’s visits have become harder to pay because Americans have many other debts they’re juggling,” said Debt.com founder and chairperson Howard Dvorkin.
By: Megan Cerullo | Source: CBS News
“A lot of times, medical providers’ prices are wacky,” Howard Dvorkin, a certified public accountant and chairman of Debt.com, told CBS MoneyWatch. Dvorkin recalls receiving a bill for a medical incident that required his daughter to be airlifted for treatment. The initial total? $18,000. He asked the treatment provider what rate they would have billed his insurance company and said: “That’s the rate I’ll pay.”
By: Donna Fuscaldo | Source: AARP
When it comes to medical bills, you aren’t alone. Debt.com’s Medical Debt Survey found that close to 6 in 10 consumers are having a hard time paying medical bills in the face of inflation. The good news is that there are ways to pay. for it without racking up expensive debt. For starters, if you’re offered a medical credit card with an interest-free period, make sure you can pay off the bills within that time frame. If that’s not realistic, request a payment plan directly with the provider instead. Some doctors will offer interest-free plans for multiple years. Make sure to get the payment plan in writing to avoid any of the doctor bills being sent to collections, says Howard Dvorkin, CPA, and chairman of Debt.com. If you have insurance and your provider declines to cover a procedure, Dvorkin says to appeal the decision. It also behooves you to go over the bill to spot any errors that may have added to the cost. Even saving a couple of thousand dollars can go a long way. “Health insurers make mistakes, too, so consumers should ask their insurance company about what they do and don’t cover. People with gap insurance should also check with their providers to see if their bills will be covered,” says Dvorkin. If all else fails and you have multiple medical debts, you can try to consolidate them into one loan. This will give you one monthly payment and potentially a lower interest rate. You can also try to settle the debt, although this will negatively impact your credit score. To settle, Dvorkin says to negotiate directly with the collection agency. “Consumers who find themselves with medical bills they can’t pay should prioritize keeping their bills out of collections — all while fighting to receive a reasonable price or payment plan,” says Dvorkin.
By: John Egan | Source: Bankrate
“CPAs and doctors have one thing in common,” says CPA Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “We see the same symptoms in people. Headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, chest pain, obesity, anxiety, depression, panic attacks. You name it, I’ve seen it.”
By: Deb Gordon | Source: Forbes
“Medical debt is often the most depressing and stressful kind, because you or a loved one just endured a health scare—only to face huge bills you can’t afford,” said Howard Dvorkin, CPA, chairman of Debt.com. “You’re already fragile, either physically or emotionally, and often both. Pile medical debt on top of that, and it can crush anyone’s resolve.”
By: SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL | Source: SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL
I drove down Broward Boulevard Sunday night and saw a dozen homeless people camped out. The image was gut-wrenching.
By: SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL | Source: SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL
If you can go to a restaurant, you can come to work. That’s been my mantra as the pandemic thankfully fades and booster shots start arriving. Remote work has its place and has shortcomings.