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?
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?
consult.
Those who say get an elder care attorney are correct. It is not inexpensive to get one, but if one has no, or very little liquid assets, and within the income guidelines, they can get Medicaid Long Term Care. The area agency on aging should help, but if not, see an elder care attorney.
Then there is the other part of Long Term Care which is called MMA, Managed Medical Assistance, which covers medical needs, dr. bills, physical therapy when needed, etc.