I'm worried about my parents medical bills?

Question

My mom has been in the hospital for the last month. She just came home a week ago and now we are starting to get the medical bills. One of them is for 127,000... This is the full bill not including what insurance will pay. They have 2 insurance policies on my mom. I beleive one of the insurance companies they have is athem and i'm not sure who the second company is, it might be another athem insurance too. How much of the 127,000 would they have to pay out of there pocket? I'm worried they are going to lose everything they have worked for the last 35 years. Any help would be great. Thanks

Answer 1

Right -- empty all the bank accounts and stock accounts -- empty everything before they start doin collection and taking assets--except the home...  Do not put it in your bank -- cause anything over $10,000 if reported to IRS for taxes...Buy money orders and if you need $5000 cash one in...

Need to get advise from the proper lawyer who normally handle these kinds of things.

Answer 2

How old are they? If they're on a Medicare plan then probably the most they could look at paying is around 20%. (Medicare has a 20% co-pay but if they have a second policy, it's probably a medigap to cover much of that. HOWEVER people don't remember that Medicare does NOT cover everything and there are caps on things as well.) No one will be able to tell you for sure until the dust settles and the bills are paid by the insurances.

IF your parents bills end up being huge and they're poor, they may end up on Medicaid as well.

Good luck--it's a nightmare. Hope your mom is better now--if you can handle the bill issues (just watch the mail, return any calls, etc.) that would help reduce her stress.

Answer 3

If she has two insurance companies, chances are most everything will be covered by the insurance companies.  She will have to contact her insurance companies and find out what her policies are, what they cover and how much her portion is but I wouldn't worry about it.  If after both insurance companies have paid their portions, she still can't afford to pay the bill, then contact the hospital... most are willing to set up a payment schedule that she can afford.

Answer 4

Each policy has specific deductibles, and coinsurance stop loss language.  What their part is will depend on the policy.  If, for example, they have a $500 deductible and 80% ccoinsurance with a $2,000 out of pocket maximum, the most they would have to pay is $2,500 ($500 ded. + $2,000 max. stop loss).  

The second policy, again according to policy language, might cover her out of pocket expenses.  There are too many variables to give a definitive answer.

Answer 5

usually a deductible is paid on medical insurances also, check the bill and check with the insurance company to see what covers and what doesn't this will help to indicate what amount is owed from the bill you received. I pray everything works out for you and your parents. God bless.