what happens when someone does not pay the hospital bill of $500.000 when the spouse dies.?
Question:
Answers:
Unfortunately you can be sent to a collection agency. Many times the balance will be "written off" meaning the hospital will just absorb the cost. This isn't always the case. If they are billing you, check with the billing department of the hospital and see if you can apply for HCAP or HFA assistance for the balance. These types of programs are based on your income and often times the whole cost is written off. If not, as long as you keep the account in an active status they cannot send you to a collection agency. The account is usually considered active when you pay no less than $5.00 per month. That's it. Otherwise you can make a payment arrangement with them. Tell them you are unable to affor more than 5 or 10 dollars a month and they have to accept that. As long as you make your payments on time they can't send you to collections, which ruins your credit. This sounds like an unfortunate situation. Best wishes to you and your family.
Other Answers:
honestly screw it and don't pay, they didn't help at all. :(
The spouse remaining gets left with the bill.
They will try to sue the estate, as well.
collectors will try to recover that money from that person.
You will be required to pay the bill. If you don't pay, it will go to collections. If still unresolved it can turn into a warrant for arrest.
Nothing. I work as a patient financial rep in MI and we can only sue if a probate is filed, since a remaining spouse is already the benefactor, there will be no probate filed on the estate. Hospitals can legally write these off as "no probate filed". This complies with federal guidlines for write-off codes.
Send them a copy of the death cert. along with the bill. You do not have to send an official certificate, make several copies as you are not responsible for another person's incurred debts in their name, it's unconstitutional.
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