H.R.-2086 was introduced in Congress June, 2012 by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC). It just might be one of the most effective acts that our Federal legislature could enact to help boost the housing market and improve our dismal economy. This bill, which is also known as the Medical Debt Responsibility Act of 2011, allows for the removal of paid and/or settled medical debts from your credit report, up to $2500 per account.

You can read the bill here: “http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:1:./temp/~bdZEqN:@@@L&summ2=m&|/home/LegislativeData.php?n=BSS;c=112|”

“According to the Commonwealth Fund, medical bill problems or accrued medical debt affects roughly 73,000,000 working-age adults in America; and in 2010, 30,000,000 working-age American adults were contacted by a collection agency for unpaid medical bills.”

If this bill were to be passed, I believe it would be one of the most efficient and effective ways to improve the credit score of millions of Americans and to turn thousands of people who cannot qualify for mortgages today due to credit scores marred by paid medical debt into qualified home buyers.

Besides mortgage lending, negative credit scores caused by paid medical debt that remain on your credit reports can affect life's necessities:

--It can affect whether you are hired when seeking employment.

--You will pay higher premiums for auto insurance, homeowners insurance, or renter's insurance.

--Your credit score can severely impact your chances of being able to rent a home/apartment and if you do happen to get into that rental, your scores may also affect the amount of security deposit required, or possibly cause you to pay more for rent than someone with acceptable credit.

--Negative credit will cause you to pay hefty security deposits with your utility companies.

--You will pay higher interest rates, or can be denied for private student loans.

--You may not be able to purchase a plan with a cell phone provider.

I’m sure there is much more affected than I have listed here.

IMAGINE THE HUGE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND OUR ORDINARY DAILY LIVES IF THIS BILL WERE ENACTED.

Send a STRONG message to Congress that "We the People" and also the well-being of our GREAT nation would benefit tremendously from the passage of this bill. Please support this petition and also my petition for “Senate Bill S. 2149 - Medical Debt Responsibility Act of 2012.”

After supporting these petitions, please take a few minutes of your time and write a letter to your local congressman supporting this bill. Consider it your patriotic duty to play a small part of helping our people and our country pull through these tough times and rise again. Act fast, bill H.R.-2086 was introduced in the House last June and has sat dormant in committee since that time. I am sure there is little time left for them to pass this bill before it will need to be re-introduced.

And remember... We don't choose medical debt, medical debt chooses us.

Signed,
Cancer Survivor & Medical Debtor