Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Virginia
isDeceased Medical bills
My mother passed away in Feb 2008. Am I resbonsible for medicals bills I am receiving now. Medicare has paid part but there is a balance remaining. Am I responsible? Also there was a problem with her Medicare suppliment. They did not pay because of a mistake made with her plan number. I am constantly being harrassed by medical claims and I just do not know what to do.
My husband and I have gone into debt to pay for my father's funeral in2007 and then my mother's in2008 plus trying to pay off other debts. Please help. We are on a fixed income and can not afford to keep paying all these things.
Thank you in advance.
Denise
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: isDeceased Medical bills
No, you are not responsible for these particular medical bills. (Whether or not you wish to attempt to straighten out whatever glitches may have occurred with her Medicare plan number is up to you but you have no obligation to do so(in my opinion).
Re: isDeceased Medical bills
No, children are not resposible for their parents' debts or expenses.
However....
Before the children can inherit anything from the parent, the property and funds of the deceased parent must first be applied to paying off unpaid debts and expenses.
Sometimes people get confused and want to inherit proprety or finances without paying off those debts. So theoretically a debtor could come after a child to recover inherited money that should have paid off the parents' expenses. (However, most creditors are not that energetic or diligent).
Unfortunately, debt collectors will try to talk you into paying. There is not much you can do stop that except tell them to go pound sand.
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