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Responsibility for a Deceased Spouse's Medical Bills

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  • 09-18-2009, 01:50 PM
    Jeanine82009
    Responsibility for a Deceased Spouse's Medical Bills
    My question involves medical debt in the State of: NEW YORK / WYOMING

    I am actually trying to research information for my mother. Earlier this year my father passed away while visiting me in Wyoming. All of his medical bills are from providers in the State of Wyoming. He however resided in NY State, and his insurance was through a company in NY.

    A portion of his medical bills were paid, some incorrectly according to his policy/plan co-pays/deductibles. When my mother first contacted the insurance company they requested that she mail a death certificate proving he has died, and that there is no estate in place. It also had to state that she was handling all of his affairs before they would discuss anything with her about "his" medical bills. She followed directions..sending death certificate with the letter, as instructed. She called the insurance company today and they told her that they no longer accept the death certificate, and that they cannot discuss anything to do with my father's insurance information/bills with her. They told her that if she did not accept responsibility for my father's bills in the hospital, that she is most likely not responsible for them at all. They told her to get in touch with a lawyer, which she does not have money for. All she was asking was why their deductible of $100 wasnt placed into action, and they said they cant talk to her about anything. The hospital, ambulance and other providers are sending bills for the balances (all are addressed to my father only). If she is responsible for his bills, FINE she will pay them...but how does she find that out #1? ...and, if the insurance company co-pays and deductibles are not correct and the insurance company wont speak to her about any information....how does she go about getting this corrected?....contact the hospital/ambulance and ask them to contact the insurance company for her....or what?
    My dad was a retired postal worker....should she get the federal office of personnel management involved with the insurance problems to clear up the incorrect insurance pay outs to providers...or should she just tell the hospital and ambulance that there is NO ESTATE for him to pay bills from, and that she is not responsible for his bills?

    How does that work when you reside in New York....but your spouse died in Wyoming (bills from Wyoming)?? HELP!! Thanks! :wallbang:
  • 09-18-2009, 04:00 PM
    jk
    Re: Responsibility for a Deceased Spouse's Medical Bills
    Quote:

    or should she just tell the hospital and ambulance that there is NO ESTATE for him to pay bills from,
    of course there is an estate. Your father was a half owner of everything the couple owned and depending on how any particular item was titled, his 1/2 of the total may need to be used to pay his bills.

    You need to look into the probate laws for New York. It may result with there was no value to dads estate when the estate is distributed per the laws of intestate succession (I am presuming there was no will) but until such time it is researched, it is difficult to determine.
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