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My mom was recently hospitalized for the flu. Her insurance denied the claim saying she could have received in-home treatment instead. Her monthly expenses are already exceeding her income. I pay all her bills and without the financial support of my sisters and I, she wouldn’t be making the ends meet now. My sisters and I are tapped out and can’t contribute any additional money to pay the hospital bills. Her income is just over the allowable amount to receive Medicaid so that isn’t an an option. She lives in the least expensive assisted living place we could find. One of my sisters and I are on her checking account. If the bills are turned over to a collection agency, would we be liable for payment? She has no assets-house, car, or any investments that could be sold. What happens in a situation where there literally isn’t any money to pay bills?

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Challenge the denial. Ask her doctor to justify the reasons she needed hospitalization.

If she's over the limit for Medicaid, you go to an Eldercare attorney to create a Qualified (or Miller) income trust, which diverts her overage to a trust which reverts to the state upon death. Does the AL accept Medicaid?
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You are not responsible for her bills? Have you gotten the final bill from the Hospital. If not, wait. Sometimes there are adjustments. If not, then call the billing office, they may have coded it wrong. If Mom was admitted then there was a reason. This years strain was deadly. Maybe Mom had a predisposition that made her case serious. You need to cover all angles before making payment. How old is Mom? A bill going to collections is not going to hurt her credit. Doubt if she will be buying a car or a house.
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If you did not co-sign the credit card or other bills, it's not on you. Don't pay if your name is not on the account holder or co-signer or guarantor line.
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It's my understanding that "observation" at a hospital is not covered by insurance even if the patient is there overnight. Insurance usually only covers admission and in-patient services.
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Thank you so much for the suggestions. I haven’t received a bill from the hospital yet. The insurance company was going to work with the Hospital concerning coding, so there may be help yet. I’ll pay more attention to the reason for admission if there is a next hospital stay. I didn’t realize that there was a difference between admitting a person and admitting a person for observation. Observation would have been covered, admission was not. My knowledge is increasing all the time. Thanks again!
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Elder law attorney is needed STAT.
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Thank you all for your suggestions. We’re in NC and from what the woman at the Agency on Aging told me there is no assistance for my mom. She was very unhelpful. My mom has no assets and is not eligible for Medicaid. Right now I’m waiting to see what the hospital and insurance company decide. I was told that if we can’t pay the bill it would be turned over to a collection agency. It really doesn’t make a difference who comes collecting if there’s no money. The lady at the Agency on Aging suggested paying something. There literally is NO extra money to pay something. I pay her pc dr appointment bills from our income just to make sure she can see him. Thanks again for your advise and suggestions. Much better than the Agency on Aging.
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You need to speak to a Senior Finacial Advisor. They can help turn any retirement, into an annuity. If either of you has a Durable Power of Attorney, you can spend money to pay her bills, to her down to the allowable amount to qualify for Medicaid. Once she has below the 2k mark and her SS money is going to help for the Nursing Home, you can start the Medicaid process...
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What State do you live in? In Ohio there is a program called Passport that you can contact for services for seniors. I did this last year for my parents and was able to get a free 30 consultation with an attorney to discuss legal issues.  Check out state agencies first. Catholic Family Services was a big help in getting advice in applying for Medicaid, you don’t have to be Catholic to get help. Their doctor's practice also has an on-staff social worker to 
consult.
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Why is your mom not eligible for Medicaid?
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