Can your wages be garnished for medical debt?

Yes, your wages can be garnished for medical debt. Medical debt is a type of consumer debt, and under federal law, creditors are allowed to garnish your wages to collect consumer debts. However, there are some limitations on how much of your wages can be garnished. The maximum amount that can be garnished is 25% of your disposable income (your income after taxes and other deductions have been taken out).

In order to garnish your wages, a creditor must first obtain a judgment against you. This means that they must file a lawsuit against you and win. If they are successful, the court will issue a judgment that states how much you owe. The creditor can then take the judgment to your employer and ask them to start garnishing your wages.

If your wages are being garnished, you may have some options for relief. You can contact the creditor and try to work out a payment plan. You can also file for bankruptcy, which will stop the garnishment. However, bankruptcy is a serious financial decision and should not be taken lightly.

If you are struggling with medical debt, there are a number of resources available to help you. You can contact a credit counselor, who can help you develop a plan to pay off your debt. You can also apply for government assistance programs, such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).