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helpformom22 Asked April 25, 2024

Does my mother need to continue to pay a past medical bill?

My mother will be transitioning to a Medicaid/SSA/SSI Assisted Living facility. She will have no income aside from the $30/month. She will no longer be able to afford to pay a past medical bill. What will happen if she stops paying it?

AlvaDeer Apr 25, 2024
Nothing will happen.
She has no funds.

If this is a sizable account she owes on they can get a court judgement, but they cannot access SS funds for payment. If Mom has a home worst that would happen would be a lien on the home, and collection by creditors upon/at sale of the home in future.

The family will continue to get letters and it's important that NO ONE may even a tiny payment on this or it is considered "assuming the loan" and they can be liable to pay. It is important Mom make no small payment, as well, or this increases the number of years (often 5) they can attempt to collect on this debt.

This debt will likely be "sold" by the grantor to a collection agency. That's when the fun of the phone calls begins. Ignore and hang up. Do not speak to them unless to tell them what you told us about her having no income monthly and being unable to pay.

Your mother's credit, of course, WILL BE/should be ruined. That's fine. She no longer needs credit and should be incurring no future debts given she cannot pay past ones.

Remember, do not get tricked into making any payment yourself!
Jacquelinezr Apr 30, 2024
This is great information.
Isthisrealyreal Apr 25, 2024
I, personally, would send a letter to the medical provider. Tell them that Ms. So and so will be entering a care facility under medicaid and that she will no longer have any funds to pay her bill and thank you for your consideration.

Do NOT provide any of your information, or refer to her as mom in the letter, write it as you would for a stranger, this will stop them from bothering you and it is proof that they were notified. I would do the electronic notification of delivery, in case the company says they never received it.

If they know she is going on medicaid, into a facility they might just write the debt off and not hassle her or you trying to squeeze blood from a turnip.

Besides, I think it is just the right way to handle debts, you don't just walk away and ignore them, just my opinion.

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sp196902 Apr 25, 2024
It will go to collections. But since she has no money there is nothing they can do to collect on it.

Geaton777 Apr 25, 2024
When my MIL applied for Medicaid, they wanted to see any medical bills owed 3 months prior to her qualifying. They can't collect on that bill if she's on Medicaid... there's no money to do so. You could ask her case worker.

Anxietynacy Apr 25, 2024
I agree, nothing they can do, and when your mom passes I think you can send them a death certificate.

cover9339 Apr 25, 2024
So SSI and Medicaid are covering the full cost of the facility?
JoAnn29 Apr 25, 2024
Medicaid never covers the full cost. They have a limit. My Mom was on Medicaid for 3 months. She owed them 6k. She contrbuted 1700 a month. So monthly the NH was paid 3700 a month. Private pay was 9300 a month.
Llamalover47 Apr 30, 2024
helpformom22: The bill is deemed uncollectible.

Rogerwyatt7890 Apr 30, 2024
Eventually they will just write it off.

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