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S 2471 113th Congress Senate

Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014

Official title: A bill to amend title 11 of the United States Code to provide bankruptcy protections for medically distressed debtors, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 24, 2014 Introduced by: Whitehouse, Sheldon Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
Finance and Financial Sector BankruptcyHealth care costs and insuranceMilitary operations and strategyMilitary personnel and dependentsStudent aid and college costs
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 2014
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 12, 2014
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action June 12, 2014

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014 - Amends federal bankruptcy law to cite circumstances under which a medically distressed debtor may elect to exempt from the property of the estate in bankruptcy up to $250,000 of the debtor's aggregate interest in: (1) specified real or personal property that the debtor (or debtor's dependent) uses as a residence, (2) a cooperative that owns the property used as a residence by the debtor or a dependent of the debtor, or (3) a burial plot for the debtor or debtor's dependent.

Applies the same election to certain other property of a medically distressed debtor, including certain retirement funds held in a tax-exempt account.

Declares inapplicable to a medically distressed debtor: (1) certain presumptions that granting relief under Chapter 7 would constitute abuse of Chapter 7, and (2) mandatory court disapproval of a debtor's plan under chapter 13 upon objection by the trustee or the holder of an allowed unsecured claim.

Waives the credit counseling prerequisite for filing for debt relief in the case of a medically distressed debtor.

Permits a medically distressed debtor to discharge in bankruptcy debts for certain educational loans.

Requires a debtor who seeks relief as a medically distressed debtor to attest in writing, and under penalty of perjury, that debtor's medical expenses are genuine, and are not specifically incurred to bring the debtor within the meaning of "medically distressed debtor."

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2471: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2471/
MLA
"S. 2471: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2471/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2471, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2471/.
Markdown link
[S. 2471: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2014](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-2471/)
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