Almost half of Americans are holding onto medical debt, according to a 2022 poll (1) from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Another option to manage debt is working with a credit counselor to make a debt management plan, which is different from a debt settlement program. But because of its long-term impact on your credit, bankruptcy is often viewed as a last resort. Consolidate your debtLike it did for Sam and Alison, medical debt has become a financial reality for millions of Americans. In minutes, you'll see all the lenders willing to help pay off your credit cards or other debts with a single personal loan.