Mom had a living trust. Mom arranged for a living will several years ago. She passed away nearly two years ago. The hospital called saying that we are due a "refund." I think this is a ploy to get my contact info so that they can send collection agencies after her children.
The question is: are we liable if we received an inheritance under her trust?
I think hearing from the hospital is bringing back all the stress and nonsense we had to go through during her stay.
That is why I wondered if this was legitimate. I've NEVER had a doctor's office let alone a hospital try to find me to send a refund.
Thank you again for your input and I may take you up on your offer. I haven't decided yet whether I will call.
Hospitals see the elderly as walking ATMs.
igloo: Mom lived in a small town. I don't have contact with her advisor (accountant) who created her trust. I thought of opening up a post office box in a nearby town in order to preserve my privacy. But it all seems too fishy and not worth the hassle. I've read that hospitals are now going after relatives hoping to guilt them into paying even though they are not liable. They are even hiring collection agencies to hound them...as if you don't have enough to deal with.
I figure that I did the honorable thing by paying all Mom's bills even after she passed. It's been two years since she passed...I neither need the money or the hassle. The sib, however, may have other ideas... :(
The trust if done properly creates it's own legal entity. Kinda it's own person. If everything in the trust has been totally dispersed (& I bet it has) than the trust is defunded and goes defunct. There is nothing for the creditors to go after.
For what it's worth, my MIL died maybe 4 years ago. Over 2 years later, BIL got a very small check from the NH to MIL. Check did not say what for & under $ 100. Now she was in NH for maybe 6 mos & we figure it was whatever was left in her personal needs allowance trust fund at the NH. Problem was that there was no Jane Jones bank account anymore as all that closed up after she died & BIL wasn't about to deposit it in his personal account. So he just ignored it as too much trouble to deal with (none of the kids live in the state). When you get the check, this may be an issue for you. So it's good that it goes to the attorney's office as they can tell you how to deal with it or not deal with it. Good luck.
I was under the impression that the hospital can go after an estate, even if the funds have been disbursed....but I don't know about funds in a trust.
Fearful is a good word. It's been two years since she passed and now they have just discovered this "refund?" Give me a break! I told my sib to not speak with them further and not give out my personal info.
I do not trust hospitals - they are ruthless.