Responsibility for Spouse's Medical Bills
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: New York
Hi all,
My wife has metastasized cancer. The insurance is under her own name (I have my own). The bills are piling up faster than the hospital can throw her into a MRI machine.
I plan on making an attempt to pay all bills received from her treatment. Two part question here:
- Will making small payments keep the wolves away (can't lose our house)? In other words $20 here $60 there...
- What I am legally liable for?
Thanks in advance,
Dave
Re: Responsibility for Spouse's Medical Bills
My spouse racked up some medical bills that were not covered by insurance. Generally speaking, our providers have been cooperative and understanding. They send us bills every month and as long as they get something, they just send another bill the next month.
Others want you to sign a set payment arrangement and they generally want it settled more quickly. Be aware that once you sign a set arrangement like that, their legal position is significantly strengthened.
I guess I would ask why insurance isn't covering certain things. If it is due to a deductible or out of pocket max, fine. You just need to try to be sure you are getting a rate similar to what the insurance company has contracted. This can be as much as 50% of rack rates or more. You should be able to tell by looking at your Explanation of Benefits. If I weren't getting a discount, I would ask.
Personally, upon getting a bill, if the service is being billed at the discounted insurance rate, I would simply send a check for what I could. They will either call and ask you to sign on the dotted line commiting to a monthly amount, or they will be happy they got a check and generate another bill the following month.