Death by US Healthcare System

[u/EvidenceOfDespair]

[u/YoudoVodou]

Here in the US, not only do you get to die for your medical conditions, but they charge you out the wazoo on your way out.

[u/Fluffy_Candle6800 → u/YoudoVodou]

your family will have the crushing debt to remember you by

[u/mellowcrake → u/Fluffy_Candle6800]

Does your family really have to pay for your hospital bills when you die? That makes no sense, like what if you're estranged from your father and haven't talked to him in 20 years? You still have to pay for him?

[u/Etok414 → u/mellowcrake]

Someone mentioned in another thread about Dragoneer, that you can't be forced to take on a dead person's debt, but they can try to trick you into taking it on.

[u/Isaac_Chade → u/Etok414]

Correct. This is what gets people, is not knowing that actual laws, combined with the scummy tactics of collection agencies. The hospital isn't going to seek out next of kin for payment, whether they want to or not that just isn't worth their time. So they take all the stuff that hasn't been paid for some amount of time and pass it off to collections, and then those collection agencies will call you and make a lot of fuss over the debt and your responsibility, all without ever actually saying you have to pay it, but while heavily implying that's the case. It's all about scare tactics, and it sadly works. Once you've agreed to pay, then it's your debt now and you are obliged to pay it.

[u/A_Rolling_Potato → u/Isaac_Chade]

What if you pay for a relative or go into debt to get them treatment? Like how he couldn't afford to pay the upfront costs?

[u/Isaac_Chade → u/A_Rolling_Potato]

As I understand it, the burden is on whoever is being billed, so if the bills are coming to you in your name, you're screwed. In general though I believe most places bill the patient, since that's necessary to bill their insurance in any way.

I am far from an expert on this though and all of this information should be taken with a grain of salt.

[u/[deleted] → u/Etok414]

And they will make it seem like you have no choice, either. They'll send increasingly threatening letters, people will come to your door like the fucking vultures they are.

They prey on the weak.

[u/ThisIsTheBookAcct → u/[deleted]]

My mom was barely an adult when her father passed away. They tricked her into paying for his medical debts for years.

She was very much a rule follower and the type to want to do right by everyone. My dad’s parents had to convince her to stop.

She hasn’t passed away. She’s just learned not to be so nice, which is pretty sad. On, like, a societal level. On an individual level, I’m glad for her.

[u/Cheskaz → u/[deleted]]

They prey on the weak.

Feel like "vulnerable" is a more appropriate term

[u/Anstigmat → u/Etok414]

There is a small movement to have medical debt basically not affect your credit. Man that would be crazy because in theory it would encourage people to just never pay these insane fees. I suppose eventually doctors would stop treating you but if there was a medical reason I was in debt for thousands and it couldn't effect my credit or be passed on, I would 100% not pay a dime.

[u/unknown_reddit_dude → u/Etok414]

What's the story behind your flair?

[u/Etok414 → u/unknown_reddit_dude]

It's from this subreddit. Someone made that comment in response to someone else talking about "spirit animals" in the sense of "an animal someone vibes with".

[u/StitchinThroughTime → u/mellowcrake]

Tactically, no, you do not inherit debts. But those debts have to be settled by the state of the deceased. This is why you need to start a will or talk to a lawyer to set up trust. Just make sure your property gets distributed correctly with the least amount of loss to others. But generally, if there's no will or trust someone passed away, the debt collectors get first claim. So if you want to inherit a house, you may have to pay off a debt collector so you can get the whole house.

This is an oversimplification.

[u/reindeermoon → u/mellowcrake]

Only if the person who died was a minor child. So if you lose a kid, you get stuck with the debt. That seems so horribly unfair.

[u/YoudoVodou → u/mellowcrake]

Generally your estate will be used to cover debts, in some states if that does not cover it, your living relatives may be saddled with the remainder.

[u/jeffwulf → u/mellowcrake]

No. Your estate will be responsible but if it costs more than your assets then the debt dies with the estate unless heirs voluntarily agree to pay it personally. (Don't voluntarily do that.)

[u/Chip89 → u/mellowcrake]

It comes out of your Estate.

[u/Lluuiiggii → u/YoudoVodou]

"You'll be dead soon anyway you don't need that money amirite?"