@Sullivan
Many labor unions, like IBEW, have self-funded insurance, which means they have a bit more flexibility in handling claims. Definitely reach out to the union for help—they’re familiar with these kinds of situations.
Are you going through probate? It might be worth having your attorney handle this.
Ollie said:
Are you going through probate? It might be worth having your attorney handle this.
Yes, I have an attorney for probate.
Ollie said:
Are you going through probate? It might be worth having your attorney handle this.
Yes, I have an attorney for probate.
It sounds like you’re doing everything right, but it’s a waiting game now.
You’re not personally responsible for this. Do you have an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from the insurance company? If the estate doesn’t have enough to cover everything, probate court sets priorities for who gets paid. Talk to your probate attorney before paying anything.
I work in hospital billing, and I can tell you that a deceased patient’s bill is often written off if the hospital receives a death certificate. Contact the hospital, let them know, and request that they write off the charges. If you need help, feel free to DM me—I’ve worked in this field for over a decade.
@LEMER
Yep, sending a death certificate should get the hospital to take responsibility for their failure.
It sounds like the hospital didn’t send the medical records, and that’s their fault. Get a copy of the EOB from the insurance, and if it says your dad didn’t owe anything, contact the hospital billing department. They should pull the account from collections and fix this issue.
Check with the insurance to make sure the hospital was in-network. If they were, the hospital may have violated their contract by not billing properly, which means you may not owe anything. Dispute the collection and ask for a detailed statement of charges.
@Jay
Agreed. If the insurance company denied the claim because the hospital didn’t submit the records, it’s on the hospital. Look at the denial letter from the insurance and see if there’s an appeal process for the hospital.
The hospital didn’t send the required documents, and now they want someone else to pay? They missed the deadline, so they should be stuck with the bill. Tell them that you know they didn’t follow proper procedures, and if they don’t resolve it, you’ll file a complaint with BCBS about their billing practices.
It’s the hospital’s job to send the records, not the insurance company’s job to chase them down. When hospitals don’t follow the rules, they can’t make the patient pay for their mistake. Check the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and make sure the hospital is following the right procedures.
If you pay from your own funds, you could become liable. Let the estate handle it.
I work in hospital billing too. Get a copy of the EOB from the insurance company, and if it says your dad didn’t owe anything, send it to the debt collector. You can also call the hospital and ask them to pull the account from collections.
Can you ask the hospital to take responsibility for not sending the required documents to the insurance company? You might need to ask your estate lawyer for help, especially since you don’t want to lose your inheritance because of this.
As an appeals nurse, I suggest calling the hospital to ask if they sent the medical records and appealed the denial. Sometimes insurance companies delay payments on purpose. You can also check the regulations under Title 29 for health plans.
Which state are you in? Usually, accounts are only transferred after debts have been settled and the claim period has ended.
You might want to get advice from an accredited estate attorney.