Seniors struggling to pay for their medical expenses are making up a large portion of Wisconsin's 30% increase in bankruptcy filings from this time last year.

In the western half of Wisconsin, there were about 7,000 filings for all of last year. This year there were almost that many as of last month.

A Clerk of Courts for the Western District of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court says the increase is probably due to an increase in job losses combined with health issues.

The clerk says more people over 60 are filing for bankruptcy, especially those who are trying to pay medical expenses on fixed incomes.