NU Online News Service, June 24, 2004, 1:14 p.m. EDT
Medical debt has contributed to a surge in Washington state bankruptcies.[@@]
State residents filed 39,818 personal bankruptcies in 2003, up from 14,448 bankruptcies in 1990, according to the Working for Health Coalition, Seattle.
The nonprofit group found medical debt was the main cause of 46% of personal bankruptcies in Washington state in 1999, up from 14% in 1991.