In my case in KY, I was not responsible for any of my husband's medical bills and went thru probate. Everything I have received since that time, I have written "deceased-return to sender".

I hope you can get this cleared up quickly.

Nessie from KY

They sent it to you because Medicare told them it was too late to bill, and since it was their error I don't believe you are responsible. If you have a local Area on Aging office you can call and ask them, or Medicare should be able to say if you are responsible.

If they neglected to bill Medicare for those charges (and they had the Medicare information at the time--which I assume they did if they billed other charges for that time period) they cannot bill you for that amount now. It will have to be adjusted off due to timely filing. They obviously are hoping you will just pay the amount and not question it or it was found in an audit and the bill automatically generated when the debit hit their system. Let them know that you are aware this is a timely filing situation and you are not responsible for what they did not file before the Medicare filing deadline. Hope you get it cleared up quickly.

Yep, Happens to me still and 19 months for me.

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to computer generated billing.

Good luck my friend...Diane

I'm in Illinois and therefore not responsible for his bill. I would check before considering payment. Don't say anything to them over the telephone. Don't agree to anything in writing. You can check with a lawyer first or do some online searches on this concerning your state. Hospitals and other bills are getting desperate. Possibly you're nearing the statue of limitation on payment and they're trying to collect.

I am in Oregon, and not responsible hor hubby's medical bills. I also write 'Deceased / Return to Sender'

This happened when my father- in -law passed. I called the hospital, and asked why we were getting a bill 4 years later and they told me they had a new accounting system and it detected some patients were never billed for services four years ago. I told them, he is deceased, there is no estate, and there is no money. The dismissed the bill.

Absolutely don't pay that bill. It's their fault they didn't bill in time, they are passed the deadline and you should not be responsible. I hope you clear it up to your satisfaction quickly.

Wow! Definitely a "late" bill! I would have written "Deceased" and returned it. Hugs, Joely

Joely - I didn't dream it was a bill. They have sent him several "surveys" asking how the service was at the hospital. (ha ha) I thought it was something like that.

To all of you -- thanks for the good wishes and advice. I don't plan to pay the bill and see that Lil received some after 4 yrs. also. Crazy world!