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I guess I'm just venting. They say there are only two realities in life: Death and taxes. Not true. It is death, taxes, and bills. Mom died just a few months ago, and I am still getting filed bills from services performed a year ago. What surprises me these medical idiots file the bills a year later AFTER the service was performed. This makes me afraid to seek medical doctors because I could get surprises even a year or more after. For five seconds in the hospital you can get bills at all directions in every way possible. Hospitals will bend over backward to create bills representing a great deal of creativity to deplete your bank account. That's why I refuse to see a doctor, even with medical insurance. I'm afraid of the surprise billing which pop up when mom was alive.


While I am getting a hold of this "new life" of mine--life without mom--these bills bring back a lot of pain.


These bills are under mom's name. I'm not paying any of them. I have to go through the motions and if I get a bill from home I sent them a copy of her death certificate.


Death is painful not just the actual process, but the enormous flood of paperwork. Why must life be so painful. What made it easier was preparing for her death such as pre-arranged cremation, and I did estate planning five years ago while mom was still able. I feel sorry for anybody who has not done these things. Funeral homes will really gouge you if you don't do a preplanned burial or cremation.


Now I have to get through doing her taxes. For the last time. More pain.
Even with all this preplanning it still is painful. I can't imagine how awful it would be to have to deal with probate AND these ongoing billing issues on top of that.

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I'm so sorry for your anguish and frustration! My cousin told me she got a bill from Medicare for a colonoscopy 2 years after it was performed. The reimbursement chain is one of the most broken parts of our healthcare system. Again, so sorry for your emotional pain this causes you xxoo
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JoAnn29 Feb 2020
Medicare does not bill. They send out statements showing what they have paid. Once Medicare pays the suppliment pays their portion. Then the doctor bills the patient the remainder.
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I only recently was able to finalize mom's estate, she died back in Oct 2018. Now I am just left with the task of sorting and shredding old documents that I had been keeping just in case, everything I discard makes me feel like I'm slowly erasing all trace of her.
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bcasteel Feb 2020
Mom in law passed away in Dec 2018. She had been in a nursing home since 2009. Like you, we kept everything that she had. I have been going through papers, and kept all of the tax papers, and just the important stuff. It's hard letting go of some things but it's necessary.
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I was my mother's executor to her estate after she past. I enlisted an attorney to help me with the estate process. Lawyer told me any remaining bills one year after my moms death does not have to be paid, except any tax issues. In other words creditors have one year to submit any out outstanding debts after the death of an individual in the state of massachusetts. I am sure there are similar laws like that in other states.
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I’m so sorry. I can relate to this. My MIL passed in June 2018. My husband is her successor trustee so he is handling the trust/estate and we still continue to receive Medicare explanation of benefits statements. We also received a bill in November 2018 for blood work done in June 2017! Adding insult to injury, at least once a month we receive life insurance advertisements addressed to her!
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Ugh so sorry for these constant reminders. I changed Moms address to mine so we are still getting solicitations from Humane Association, shelters, etc and all the other places she loved and contributed to. I growl every time I see one. And soon her last income tax filing. I do love to think about her and bring her memory up, but I want it to be on my (or her) timing. Not Geicos.
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cetude Feb 2020
I just bought a tubotax and I plan to do it next week. ALthough I notified the bank of her death, our shared account prevented a lot of headaches but even now I cannot close her account due to ongoing financial issues -- such as a her return, and I'm still trying to get Frontier to issue a refund because I closed her landline and they still owe $45. I cannot imagine the horror if I did not do estate planning five years ago because probate can take up to two years. Fortunately NOTHING went to probate due to preparation; still, even with all this preparation, it never ceases to amaze me how painful the paperwork is even after she died.
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I agree with Labs. Probate cannot be closed for a certain amount of time. In my state its 8 or 9 months. This gives creditors time to send out bills. Once Probate is closed, sorry, can't get you money.

Me, before Mom went on Medicaid I called all the doctors asking for bills I had not received. I had gotten Medicare and suppliment statements but no bills. I found that because Mom was in a home (first 2 months private pay) the balances owed were written off. Only one agreed I owed something but the acct was on hold. Turned out the claim was resubmitted and found it was covered. Ended up owing less. Billed me and I paid it. Mom died with no debt.
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Welcome to America. We occasionally get bills for just regular doctor's visits from over a year ago. This happens even though we explicitly ask if there's a copay at each visit and are told there isn't.
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guiltandanger Feb 2020
I received a bill for my "co-pay" for a scan done at a well known cancer center a year and a half after the date of service. I questioned this and they told me the delay was because they appealed the insurance company's denial and it took that long to get it resolved. This is very suspicious to me. I'm still in recovery and needing PET scans every six months, so I'm afraid not to pay this bill. Still, I now have to try to get answers from my insurance company before I pay this bill. It's very stressful. My mother died three weeks ago. I'm receiving a bill for a pneumonia vaccination she had two years ago even though she had a very expensive medicare supplement policy. Well, she had no estate from which to collect the "debt" , so now I will send the next bill back with a photocopy of her death certificate. After that, it goes in the trash bin.
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My mother died a little over a year ago; I understand; same thing was happening to me. Write "DECEASED RETURN TO SENDER" on the envelope and stick it back in the mailbox. I made sure all my Mom's legitimate bills were paid of course, but everyone else finally got the hint.
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I have no intention (hopefully) of ever officially having the FPOA.  I plan to let utilities know of her death when the time comes, to include any medical entities with a death certificate.  But beyond that - paying them anything is not an option.   They'll have to eat it.    (live in Calif).  Anyone have thoughts that might make me think otherwise?
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thepianist Feb 2020
PoA has no liability to pay the Principle's debts, and after death has no more authority for anything.
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Rocket, I had Moms mail coming to me too. Thought it would help stop junk mail she got. Nope, somehow they were able to get the address. Complained to the Post Office and they told me its the Utility Companies. They make their addresses public somehow.

To stop junk mail: If they send a self addressed envelope put everything sent into it with the persons address on top. Circle address and write "take me off ur mailing list, deceased". If first class mail, just "return to sender, addressee deceased" If no envelope and no first class, then go online and contact by email. I cut my Moms junk mail really down. I find that subscribing to magazines will start a barrage of junk mail. I called a Charity one time and was told they didn't have to remove my name because they were a Charity. Not true.
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jacobsonbob Feb 2020
I knew someone who (years ago) would stuff the return envelope with sand to make it heavy, and then mailed it back. (After the ricin and anthrax scares, one probably could not get away with this.)
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((((((cetude)))))) sorry you are hurting. Looking after business after a LO passes is difficult. I did not have a good relationship with my mother so did a lot of grieving over my lifetime. There wasn't much left when she passed yet I have found the business after to be very difficult to cope with. I can't imagine how bad it must be when you are grieving normally. Take care of yourself, The triggers will slow down and gradually disappear. I did this for my mil a few years ago. She had no estate so I just sent out death certificates.
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MelissaPA2AZ Feb 2020
Thank you for posting this Golden! I’ve been surprised at how difficult I’m finding the business end of everything. Dad passed in November and I’m still not done. Mostly because I find it so difficult to muster the energy to tackle things. I’m on the other side of the country and because Sis has to do the majority of visiting (mom is still alive and at the facility with AD) I take care of all the business. I feel guilty because it seems like I have what should be the easy end of things. Your words really helped “normalize” what I’ve been feeling! Thank you so much. And bless you.
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I'm sorry that you lost your mother. Billing practices leave a lot to be desired. If these are charges for services rendered, then they need to be paid, yes?
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thepianist Feb 2020
If they are legit they should have been billed a year ago.
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Same thing here. They would lose the death certificate even after I sent it, and phoning them got nowhere. Eventually they left me alone, but not until after the threatening letters came. 

People in the hospital administration racket have nothing to do with patient care and really should be working in high-profit corporations or that other racket making a killing these days, the higher education industry.
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cetude Feb 2020
Not only that hospitals are incredibly DANGEROUS places. OF all the years I cared for mom, I spent times of time fighting doctors and nurses as they were all determined to kill my mother and let her die. "DNR" and "hospice" they all automatically assume do nothing and let them die. Caring for her was a FIGHT not only to keep her comfortable, alive and active, but also from the abuse of the medical "system" as they were determined to let my mom die of dehydration which would have taken two weeks. The feeding tube was the best decision I made -- granted it was a last resort, but it kept mom comfortable and all her needs met until the Lord took her. I just made certain I had no part of her death. Consequently I can rest in absolute peace and cannot reproach myself I did the best care for mom nobody else would have done as much as I did for her. The feeding tube took care, daily dressing changes, and I kept it well flushed--and I never had a problem with it.
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After my husband died I got bills, calls, etc. I just answered “I would like to talk to him too. Please let me know when you find him”.
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disgustedtoo Feb 2020
Sad that you lost your husband, but your comment brought an out loud chuckle from me just now!!! What would be even better is if we could see the person at the other end and their reaction....
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If these are legitimate charges, why weren't they billed at the time of the service? I would simply send a copy of the death certificate attached to the bill. No explanation of who the sender is and why he/she can't pay the bill. Let these billers do any legwork they feel they must. I.e. that the decedent had assets that might have been available from which to make payment, what happened to those assets, etc. Normally the estate executor has to publish a death notice inviting anyone who might be owed moneys to come forward, and if they didn't, they'd be out of luck after a certain length of time. Do not let these vultures intimidate you.
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whaleyf Feb 2020
copies of the death certificate cost money. just send bill back with deceased written on it.
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I had that happened when my husband died. Well, x-husband. He died 5 1/2 months after our divorce. Neither of us knew he had lung cancer until he ended up in the hospital shortly after the divorce. We still liked each other, just couldn't stand living together. I started to get his hospital bills. I called and turns out he had put me down as his wife. He was pretty out of it when admitted so that's understandable. I just explained we were divorced when he died and from then on just sent the bills back with deceased written on the envelope. Didn't even bother to open them. Not my bill, not my problem.
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Billing really doesn't care who lives or who dies. You would be shocked at the number of people who DO pay the bill without questioning it. Working in medicine, I have seen bills go from $70500 to $0 because they were wrong and patients or their loved ones took the time to question them. I have a friend who works as the financial manager at a hospital. She writes off over $250,000 in bills a week. It's just part of the healthcare smoke and mirrors game they play...
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disgustedtoo Feb 2020
Even without death involved it can get dicey. Mom's Medicare and EXCELLENT Federal BCBS generally pays everything. I was a bit surprised to get a bill from the local hospital (it was less than $30, but... if they can get every person to think like this, they could get a lot of bills paid that shouldn't be paid!) I paid it from mom's account, but then went to check the paperwork (comes later than the bill in this case.) Turns out it says mom owes ZERO. What was really nice is the person I contacted at BCBS about this confirmed it AND did the leg work for me! The charge was reversed and funds put back into mom's account!

So, check your own insurance statements. IF the place you go accepts Medicare and/or your insurance plans, they accept the "discounted" payments they get. Know your copays and out of pocket expenses.

Some bills can be sneaky - if you get blood drawn, or other similar tests and the place taking the sample is in the plan, they sometimes send to labs that are NOT in your plan. They shouldn't do this, but it may be the only lab they use. Still, they should at least confirm. It would be best to ask, but you probably won't get an answer (nurse at work had this happen to her - it's a covered test, but was refused because it wasn't in her "network".)
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this was said before. But bears repeating. If you receive a bill for medical services more than one year past the date of service, you don’t have to pay it. Not just for someone who has died, for anyone. They have a year to present the bill.
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disgustedtoo Feb 2020
Source for this?
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It is hard I lost my Momma just two weeks ago and they keep coming
I am holding on to my faith sometimes I feel I can not breath
Hope you are doing better need to talk I am here.
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anonymous981049 Feb 2020
Sorry for your loss.. I feel the same way I lost my dad in October
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Im very sorry about your mom
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My mother died three months ago. We just received about the 40th bill from the hospital she was taken to after a fall one year ago. Her insurance paid them months ago. They're just trying to see if they can get more from us. Call them. Tell them nothing's coming and stop trying.
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Simply write "Deceased, Return To Sender" on the face of the unopened envelope and mail it back. That's the advice I was given when my mom passed away. They sent a few more to me, but after a few times the letters stkopped.
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TekkieChikk Feb 2020
Did the same when my mom died, too. As you say, the bills stopped. No need to send death certs.

The only creditor I did contact was Xfinity (Comcast). Mom had the account for internet in her name only. I had them close the account properly, including emailing a death cert, in case my dad ever wanted to transfer his phone and TV to Xfinity since utilities like these are often linked to a physical address and not always just the name on the account. The woman I spoke to in billing was very nice and sent a personal note of condolence with the email confirming the account had been closed.
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I am really sorry for your great loss Cetude. Most of Us here on this great site know the pain of loss. Do not worry as your Name is not on the bill. Return the bill by post to the Hospital and inform them that your Mom died a month ago, RIP. The debt will be written off.
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From personal experience, it could be that the providers were delayed in submitting bills to the insurance company. I found out that providers have up to 2 years to submit for reimbursement. Upsetting and annoying, I know! Unfortunately as painful as it is, what you are already doing is the best way to go.
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The FIRST thing to do is CLOSE your bank accounts and open new one in a new bank so "billing" companies can't attach your money.  NEVER let anyone know info about your finances.  Pay ALL bills with a money order with a phony "sender address".  I've been through the same thing you are facing and my attorney gave me much needed instructions to CMA.
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Manson Feb 2020
Who gave you this advice? This is wrong advice.
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It took me too long to figure out--the first bill from a particular office or billing group reflects the total before insurance coverage. DON'T PAY THAT ONE! It can take them months to finally submit the bill correctly to insurance--sometimes you have to call them and give them the correct insurance info. Finally, about 3 months later, insurance pays, and you receive a bill for what you actually owe.

Another thing--when I called the hospital and asked if bills could be sent to my home instead of my mother's home, they said fine, as long as I agreed to be the responsible party. I said no way!
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Ordinarily they have ONE YEAR to collect bills after the death, and the executor is then able to distribute the estate, other bills going into the circular file (garbage can). But I would pass this by an Elder Law Attorney. And do NOT make any partial payment, as this shows good faith that you are on for paying, and reestablishes the time frame to another year. That's why they are so anxious to have you say you will pay. You are best now to talk to NO ONE but a lawyer. Well worth paying for an hour of their time. Either Elder Law or Trust and Estate law.
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If the bills are in your mom's name only you are not responsible for paying the bill. you could try writing "deceased" on the bill and sending it back but some creditors may require that you mail them a copy of the death certificate before they will write off the bill.
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Manson Feb 2020
This is true as well.
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I'm sorry for your loss--and angry as a hornet at the insurance companies.

After FIL died, we paid all 'true' bills and refused the rest. (old ones, some 2 years old). No retribution, they accepted his death certificate as proof that he wasn't capable of paying. We did pay for hir new dentures, and when I went to the office to pay the bill, they handed me a box with the new denture inside. I lost it. They looked like 'dad's teeth' and I was so sad he never got to use them, His old ones never fit well and these were expensive and nice. I'm just standing there, holding a set of dentures that cost $1,000 and didn't want them. Why he went to the dentist when he was in Hospice and knew he was dying to get new teeth was beyond me. I left them at the dentist, they were hardly something anyone else could use.

As far as ins co and slow pay--my chemotherapy of almost a year ago was FINALLY paid in January. They just did not want to shell out $150,000 in 2019, and they didn't. I fought them tooth and nail and they always had an 'excuse' for why they weren't paying. It was frustrating beyond belief and made me opt OUT of the follow up regimen my doc wants me to do b/c 5 more years of life (maybe) is not worth the incredible hassle my ins co gave me.

Shame, shame, shame on them.
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You think a few month's ago is bad, try having the same name as your father and being his live in care giver with the same address. From your 1st move to present, the mail still follows you around with every address change.
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mally1 Feb 2020
Don't envy you!
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