Clients often come into our office with a long hospital or nursing home bill and are shocked that the facility is requiring payment.

 

There are at least 3 things at work here:

1. My client's assumption that some phantom insurance will pay the bill.
2. That if there is no insurance the facility will advise them before the bill accrues.
3. That facilities/hospitals do not need to be paid.

Although it would be nice if there was some automatic payment source for all medically related bills, this is simply not the case, especially in a nursing home. Families should diligently explore what their insurance will cover so they are not slammed at the end because "no one told them". Most facilities will be happy to do this so there is no misunderstanding on payment source. But ultimately the person who signs to be responsible, is the responsible party.
 
Facilities need to be paid to continue providing quality services to our families. In addition to the above, I generally advise the following:
 
If someone has power of attorney, they should sign in their representative capacity so as to avoid personal responsibility
 
Check with an elder law attorney before placement in a facility to explore funding sources such as Medicaid and Veteran's Benefits before there is a large bill owed. If there is a bill due, sometimes we can get benefits retroactively. Don't hesitate to contact us for assistance in these matters.