My MIL has a big claim that was denied by Medicare. I haven't received a bill yet from the nursing facility where MIL was sent to rehab. I'm looking in to disputing this with Medicare and, with the possibility that she does have to pay, I also want to look into negotiating a smaller charge or making small monthly payments on the bill (should it come to that).
First, I need to complete trying to find out if something in the hospital record could be changed that would make it be covered. Also, the rehab/nursing home staff failed to notice a key inconsistency in MIL's discharge summary, which they should have called to clarify with the hospital. They didn't and instead told me MIL was covered by insurance for several weeks. So I need to find out what that means in regards to paying should this fail a Medicare appeal.
So, what do I do when I get that bill? I surely won't have all of this sorted out yet. It seems like I shouldn't just let it default, but I also don't know if I should send in any payment on it (even the $5 a month some have suggested to me) if we don't know yet if we'll have to pay it. AND if we do have to pay it, I'd like to try to figure out the best way to negotiate a reduction in cost - and again, would need to do that, I think, before I send a dime in payment.
So, what do I do when I get the bill?
IMO, if there was no error, the most Mom would owe would be the days after the 20 and 50% of that balance. You have no idea until you receive the bill what your being billed. The NH may have already made adjustments. You won't know till u receive the bill. If its been a while, I would call their billing dept and ask for the bill.
Caring for her has been rough the past few years, she's a very difficult, passive-aggressive, secretive and manipulative person. There's a reason no other family will have anything to do with her. I thought I was going to maybe finally get a chance to breathe now that she's in Assisted Living, maybe try to climb out of the depression and anxiety I'm dealing with. Then the Medicare claim statement came. And now that's something else big that feels complex (appeal? Fight rehab due to their mistake - but how, a lawyer's cost probably isn't justified? make payments, seek debt reduction, and again, the best way to do that)? This isn't that cut-and-dried, to me, at this point. I have anxiety issues, I always see all the possible problems and try to problem-solve. To an extent that is good, and to an extent it can make me go down roads I don't need to worry about. But it's hard to separate those roads when you have anxiety issues.
With the bill you got with two days to pay...next time keep the envelope showing the date it was mailed. That's the date you go by. Can't pay a bill on time, if the bill was not billed on time.
Collectors, there are laws to protect you from harassment. With a cell you can block their #s.
https://www.agingcare.com/questions/medicare-denied-payment-of-snf-stay-how-to-negotiate-lower-bill-with-the-facility-482976.htm
Overwhelmed please go to ur previous post. There are answers there. One is mine. I think I covered this question.