One of the bills I received after my husband died recently was for the ambulance ride that took his body from our home to the coroner’s office. I received it a few days later and it was addressed to his “estate”. I just ignored it through my tears and put it away along with the other bills. I received the same bill a few weeks later and they had enclosed a form requesting our insurance company’s information so they could charge them directly. I meant to get to it…but it never happened.
Today I received a statement from the insurance company and it looks like they settled the bill. We were all on Jesse’s insurance when he passed, and the kids an I became uninsured at the end of that month. But it looks like the ambulance people and the insurance company found each other anyway.
I also don’t remember a lot of things I did while I was in shock but I found out later on that I had written a check to coroners office on the day Jesse died for $322 and I had to ask my best friend who was with me at that time if she remembered why I wrote that check. She said I was asked to write that check so his body could be transported from the coroners office to the chapel for the service.
I am not sure if Jesse (gurujulp) mentioned this here. But a few months before he passed, he received a call from none other than Whoopi Goldberg. He worked in the customer service department here at the City of Berkeley. Whoopi had called to discuss the ambulance bill (thousand something dollars) that her late mother received for a two block ambulance ride. She also spoke to Jesse on the phone about how she had paid it off because she could afford it, but wondered about the other families who couldn’t afford such a bill after a loved one’s death. She mentioned this on The View a few weeks later apparently.
I couldn’t afford it either.
I am glad it is taken care of now. One less thing for me to worry about. I was afraid they were going to continue to hassle me.
I am glad it’s taken care of! One less thing. Hang in there HUG
I thought Whoopi Goldberg had paid your bill for a second there. In any case, I’m glad it’s been sorted out. hug
I am very sorry for your loss.
Do you know if an ambulance is legally required for transportation of a body in your area? If so, why? This might be something you could look into - when you feel up to doing so - to see if they law could be changed.
An ambulance is expensive and the clock starts ticking when the driver turns the ignition. I understand why; they are filled with very expensive equipment. But when the passenger is not in need of the equipment it seems a waste to me to use an ambulance. not only is it a large unnecessary exoense for the family, but it is taking an ambulance out of service for the duration.
In my area an ambulance is not required; the funeral home sent a hearse for both my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law after the coroner cleared it.
Please don’t think harshly of me for suggesting this. I am not in any implying you don’t have enough to do.
I was checking the memorial page for missing dopers about a week ago and noticed your husband listed there. I was so shocked as I had missed your announcement thread and so never expressed my sorrow about this news. I’m glad to have this opportunity to send you my sympathies.
Take care of yourself.
I’m glad it all got resolved. I hope the other financial details go as smoothly.
When my father died of a heart attack I was shocked to receive a bill from the ambulance service for the CPR they performed on him. I paid it, as apparently this is common and accepted practice. It was shocking to see the attempt to save his life brought down to cold dollars and cents within a week of his death.
I read your other thread while it was going but did not post there. Just wanted to send my condolences.
My father died last year and in the turmoil of everything and all the bills that came afterward, we got one for the ambulance - the one that took him to the hospital while he was still alive. Insurance covered the care he received over the subsequent weekend, but somehow the ambulance ride to the hospital fell thru the cracks. Fortunately, a phone call to the insurance suggested we just wait, and the bill was resubmitted and then paid with no further action on our part. Sometimes these things seem to work out.