topic Re: Medical Bills in Community Chat

Medical Bills

Jordan2 — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 18:32:35 GMT

So my mother passed away January 31, I still sometimes get medical bills for her. I live in the house she lived in, the bills are addressed to her not me. She had a supplemental insurance plan that covered her deductibles and co-pays. I got a bill from a doctor's office three times til it was finally figured out ( I called my mother's union they handled it). Anyway I get a bill from another doctor, I call the billing office, I am told because my name isn't on the bill they can't discuss it with me! I tell him my mother is deceased, doesn't matter. I'm not paying the bill if I don't know what it is for, I called the union they are looking into it. I felt like saying, good luck getting payment from my mother. I have had some people say to me, your not responsible for your mother's bills, others say if there is an estate you need to pay them. I'll pay the bill if I have too, but I would like to know what it is for.

Re: Medical Bills

D Kay — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 18:36:39 GMT

Were you your mother's power of attorney?

Re: Medical Bills

Jordan2 — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 18:47:17 GMT

@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?

No my sister is.

Re: Medical Bills

Mz iMac — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 18:47:30 GMT

After my father died, my mother kept getting med bills addressed to him. My father was a retired FED employee & never saw med bills when living.

Anywho, my mother would get her favorite RED Sharpie & either write "DEAD return to sender" in all caps or "DECEASED" in all caps across the "unopened" envelopes & put them right back in the mailbox.

Re: Medical Bills

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:06:57 GMT

You're not legally obligated to pay any bills,unless you agreed to cover them in writing.

When my mom died,bills we're constantly sent to her house & forwarded you me. I was told by an attorney that I should ignore them .I called each provider once to advise them of her insurance coverage. After that I tossed the bills.

Re: Medical Bills

geezerette — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:09:58 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.

Then I would be sending everything to her to deal with.

It's also probably why they can't discuss it with you.

Re: Medical Bills

Still Raining — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:12:05 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.

In that case, forward it to her and the estate can settle it.

Re: Medical Bills

Carmie — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:15:16 GMT

It is so important that everyone fill out a HIPAA form with their insurance company giving someone permission to ask about their insurance and claims. The expiration date should not be at your death, but listed as indefinitely.

Unfortunally The HIPAA laws have made this a necessity.

My own father had a supplement that covered all of his Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, but after he passed, we received many bills. My sister was about to pay them when I stopped her.

Some of the doctor offices were paid in full, but some bills were paid by Medicare, but were never submitted to his supplemental coverage. I had to call the doctor offices and give them the supplement info and tell the ones that were paid to stop billing us.

Mostly claims will be transferred from Medicare to the supplemental plan automactly, but sometimes they are not.

I would never pay a bill unless I was sure it is owed. You should be able to check the EOMB from Medicare and the they EOB from the supplemental to see what was paid and if the patient has a balance due.

Also, medical providers have 12 months to submit a claim, if they do not bill insurance timely, they can't bill the patient. Sometimes they do not have the patient's medical insurance info, especially if they came to the hospital to see the patient, or never met the patient..maybe a doctor who looked at the bloodwork or X-ray.

If I were the OP, I would send back the billing statement with a note on it to bill the insurance company and give them the insurance info. The ball is then in their court to prove they did and show the denial or payment and if there is a balance owed.

Re: Medical Bills

mom2four0418 — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:15:32 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.

A Power of Attorney handles matters while the person is still living. An executor (also called Personal Representative) handles matters after the death. The executor is responsible for handling any bills or other matters.

Re: Medical Bills

RedTop — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:22:17 GMT

Those bills need to be given to your sister.

Re: Medical Bills

CelticCrafter — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:30:03 GMT

@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?

Power of Attorney dies with the person.

Re: Medical Bills

Trinity11 — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:31:10 GMT

The executor of the estate is responsible for paying the bills. If that is you @Jordan2 , then you have to pay them. If you have an attorney or there is a will being probated, all bills come out of your mom's estate.

Re: Medical Bills

Carmie — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:37:30 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.
Then I would be sending everything to her to deal with.

It's also probably why they can't discuss it with you.

The POA is no longer active when a person is deceased. Her sister won't use able to get any info.

Send the bills back with the insurance info and tell them to file with a Medicare and supplemental insurance.

Re: Medical Bills

amyb — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:52:04 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.

In that case, forward it to her and the estate can settle it.

My mom passed in April. I'm an only child and was both POA when she was alive, and executor of the estate. From what I've learned since her passing, the POA becomes "null" upon they're death. So, yes, if your sister is also your mom's executor, or whomever is, then pass bills to that person to be paid from the estate.

Re: Medical Bills

Peaches McPhee — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 20:06:41 GMT

Your sister's POA expired when your mom died. The executer of the will is responsible for payment from your mom's estate (if there is an estate). If there is no estate, or if it has already been finalized, no one needs to pay those bills.

Re: Medical Bills

Foxxee — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 20:37:19 GMT

Both my parents have Medicare and supplemental insurance. They have had quite a few medical issues, treatments, and a few hospitalizations.

They were never charged for anything. Medicare and the insurance company paid for everything.

In my state, the Power of Attorney's duties end immediately after the parent dies. Only the Executor of the estate can legally handle the issues you describe.

Re: Medical Bills

Nuttmeg — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:49:48 GMT

@Jordan2

I would write on the bill, Deceased return to sender. Many times the medical billing company will continue to send out bills until you pay.

Re: Medical Bills

gidgetgh — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:58:18 GMT

If there is money in the estate and the insurance has paid their portion and the balance is due, it needs to be paid.

Re: Medical Bills

shoesnbags — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 02:21:55 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
@Jordan2 wrote:
@D Kay wrote:
Were you your mother's power of attorney?
No my sister is.
Then I would be sending everything to her to deal with.

It's also probably why they can't discuss it with you.

@geezerette @Jordan2 @D Kay

Power of attorney ends when the person dies.

The executor of the will handles this sort of thing (if there is an estate).