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Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2021

Introduced: February 2, 2021 Introduced by: Whitehouse, Sheldon Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Feb 2, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 2, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2021

This bill allows medically distressed debtors to exempt certain property from their estates in bankruptcy, which allows them to retain ownership of such property. Specifically, a medically distressed debtor may exempt up to $250,000 of the debtor's interest in (1) specified real or personal property that the debtor or debtor's dependent uses as a residence, or (2) a burial plot for the debtor or debtor's dependent.

The bill also waives certain administrative and procedural requirements for a medically distressed debtor.

Additionally, the bill allows a medically distressed debtor to discharge in bankruptcy debts for certain education loans.

A debtor who seeks relief as a medically distressed debtor must attest in writing that the debtor's medical expenses are genuine and were not incurred to bring the debtor within the meaning of a medically distressed debtor under this bill.

What's happening now February 2, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 146: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-146/
MLA
"S. 146: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-146/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 146, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-146/.
Markdown link
[S. 146: Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-146/)
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