For the record, I will almost certainly pay it.
My husband died in January of 09. Today, I received a bill from his primary care physician for services rendered in April-October of 2008 for $276.56.
It’s itemized and I’m pretty sure the charges are legit.
I am not legally required to pay it.
Would you? Why or why not?
No, not if you aren’t legally required. When the letter of the law is actually to your benefit, go with it. I give a lot more credence to rules and requirements than intangible ethics without clear-cut consequences.
Before I decided whether to pay it, I’d call the billing office and ask if they were serious about sending me a bill for services rendered over two and a half years ago, and inform them that their patient is now deceased. They may just tell you to disregard it with their apologies.
I’m very sorry about your husband.
I would pay the bill, if I owed it.
Are you not legally obligated to pay it because too much time has gone by?
edit: I like Corkboard’s answer as well.
I presume she’s not obligated because it was his debt and the estate has been settled.
Presumably his estate is obliged to pay it, if anyone is. Who is/was his executor?
If I was certain the services had been rendered and not already paid for I’d pay it. As for why, it really boils down to do “unto others” for me. I’ve made mistakes and let some paperwork slide in my own business, resulting in lost revenue…
I’m about to talk myself out of my own answer. If I discovered an open invoice from 2.5 years ago I’d never have the nerve to try and collect on it now. That’s on me.
Have they made ANY attempt to collect before this? That’s odd.
I would not pay that bill. It’s too old. It’s not yours. If the estate is settled, the bill is settled. If the estate is not settled, let them look there. If there is no estate because every asset was in joint, again too bad. It’s finished.
They may even have collected already in some form. Businesses do this double billing and late billing to fish for revenue. Don’t feel any qualms about not paying that bill.
Is it the only time the bill was sent?
I think 2 years is pushing things a tad unless there were reasonable grounds, ie changed address, wrong address given, not the first bill sent etc.
I dont think its fair that doctors not get paid simply because their patient died, given its an inherent risk of their profession, but they have an obligation to be timely as well for the same reason.
Edit: Oh and yes to Corks ideas too.
Otara
Do not pay this bill. If you are concerned about the ethics of not paying this bill, consider just how skeevy the doctor’s office is being by sendiing you a 2 year old bill that they know you do not owe.
Screw 'em.
This first. Then if they tried to tell me I owed the money, I’d tell them I disagree and will not be paying.
There’s a strict time limit on collecting debts from an estate. IIRC it’s usally about 3-12 months. The OP’s husband has been dead for over a year and a half.
My guess is that they missed sending out the invoice in a timely fashion, missed the estate settlement, and are sending the wife of record the invoice in the hopes that she’ll just automatically pay it. I think it’s entirely up to you if you pay it or not, jsgoddess. I probably would pay it myself, because if my husband used the services, then we owed the money.
I’d call them to see if they’ve made a mistake in sending it out, has it been paid already? Is there someone new in accounts making errors? I’d expect to be alerted with a phone call if someone was sending such an overdue bill.
Hello, jsgoddess. I didn’t know about and I am very sorry for your loss. May you be consoled by your memories and sustained in the care of those who loved your husband and still love you.
All bills incurred by a deceased person before his/her death should be asked about, if only because many businesses do not want to collect (or, more accurately, be known to collect) such debts.
Having said that, and with all sympathy, may I ask:
– did his doctor, to the best of your knowledge, perform the services itemized on the bill?
– April through October is quite a long time. Can you remember accurately the timing of your late husband’s visits to his physician(s), shamans or soothsayers??
Regardless, you may indulge yourself in the matter of compensating doctors. Heaven knows there’s plenty of people like me, and usually we’ll look at each other, heave a sigh, and struggle though the next game hurting each other as little as we can.
I’d pay it just to not have to deal with any hassle of not paying it. It’s only a couple hundred bucks.
Not everyone has the luxury of having a spare two hundred dollars to throw down the rabbit hole. Absolutely do not pay it without calling them first to clarify that it wasn’t sent in error.
Personally I feel no ethical responsibility to pay bills. If they were threatening to send you to collections, that’s a whole different ball of wax. But they aren’t at this stage. Don’t shell out!
Rand, give me your address so I can send you a bill. I already know you’ll pay without going through the hassle of disputing it. gimme!
You think you should get goods and services for free?
I would consider the Doc’s previous billing history. Is this a practice that normally has good billing habits, and this perhaps a bill that has been circulating between them and insurance for awhile? Or is this a practice that sends out bills haphazardly and sometimes double bills while waiting for insurance to come through? Do you have a continuing relationship with them?
In any event, assuming that your husband’s estate has been settled, then as you say you have no legal responsibility to pay the bill. I also believe YOU have no ethical obligation to pay. The bill is for services rendered to your husband and it is your husband’s obligation to pay. Earthly bills are no longer his concern, but a legal procedure exists for creditors to present their final bills for payment. The doctor failed to do so, he failed his legal and ethical obligations.
Of course, you can gain karma by explaining the situation and offering to pay the bill. The office may realize they have made an error, decide to let the obligation go, or have their day brightened by knowing their is somebody who is willing to pay a bill the office screwed up on.
Whatever you decide to do, may the future reminders of your husband be happy ones.
The clinic rendered the services in good faith. Perhaps you could pay the bill out of whatever you inherited from the estate, if it makes you feel better.
:shrugs:
Regards,
Shodan