Medical/financial advise

I kind of agree with OreoCookie about the fact that the tests were done before your brother-in-laws passing and would kind of negate the need to pay, but there's the sticky part. The tests were done before, so of course they would want to be paid. Yes, I think you should find out if your brother-in law's insurance could cover the cost though. After all the tests were done for his benefit supposedly to see about a one hundred percent match--it'd be different if it had been the other way around. Gee, aren't these places greedy for the money though. I was harassed God knows how long for the old hospital bills of my mother before she passed away. I was in no way obligated to pay those bills as they were on her health plans, nothing to do with me. Don't ask how long it took to clear that mess up..uh, over a year!--Oh and her bill was over $6,000!!!

hello grandpa, i think you need to help the family of your brother, if the insurance will pay for that you need to check with them, but for this moment i think still not the right time to us to thier family because of thier lost, i know they will undestand or you need to go to the hospital and talk to them, if you can pay monthly for them.

Her brother's insurance should pay for this, since it was related to his treatment. It is definitely not something that you should have to pay for.

I'd think his insurance should cover it especially since they were going to pay for the transplant. What a shame it is to have to deal with a bill like this after suffering such a loss! If by chance it isn't covered, don't worry yourself a lot about it; you can make payment arrangements with the hospital and they have to accept it, even if it's only a few bucks per month. It's still outrageous in my opinion. I know medical treatment isn't cheap to provide but how can they possibly justify that high a bill? I guess that's why our health care system is in the shape it's in her in the U.S.A. Annie

WOW I bet that you were surprised when that arrived. Well I know that it is a large sum and I can only tell you what I would do in this situation. I would contact the hospital and try to make a payment arrangement so that I could pay it off a little at a time. I know that it is a shock but you can do this. As far as the insurance goes I guess that I would ask if they could look into that as a possibility. But I am sure that they have their own things to deal with especially this time of year. Good luck, Merry Christmas

Since I am responding to this through my e-mai, I won't see the pic of the bill until I submit this. But it wouldn't hurt to send it to the kids to see if his insurance will pay it. Not sure how these things work, but only seems fair way for it to be paid, is that his insurance covers it.

My Condolences on the loss of your wifes brother GRAMPA BOB I have been away for a bit my self so just seeing this now. I don't know how it works in the USA as in Canada five of us tested and it was covered by our provincial ohip (medical plan). Why not try asking the brothers kid to run it by the insurance or you could get hold of the insurance plan your self and see what they say. That is too bad he passed so soon to Christmas , I know what that is like as I too buried a brother on the 22 if Dec a while back. Happy New year to you and your loved ones and peace in the new year.

Hi Grandpa Bob. Were the finances and costs discussed with the family when it was decided your wife would help out? I'm assuming this was taken into consideration prior to the procedures being done and that there was an expectation that someone would foot the bill for any on going procedures or expenses. Good luck with it all.

I would definately say that her brothers insurance needs to cover the entire bill even though he passed away they should still be responsible for it. The thing that really gets me is that the hospital and insurance talked to you and your wife and told you that the bill would be taken care of and that you wouldn't have to pay a thing. How incredibly insensitive and greedy of both the hospital and the insurance company. It's so sad how all they worry about is the all mighty dollar and don't seem to worry as much about the people they are taking care of. Maybe if they cared a little more about the patients our healthcare system would be able to give all of us as patients the caare and compassion that we all deserve. Good luck and keep us posted. I wish you and your family all the best.~D

Hi Grandpa Bob, I'm just now seeing this discussion, and am so sorry about this situation. That's a large amount, and to expect you to pay it, well ... Your wife was going to do a selfless, courageous thing, and you shouldn't have to pay, after the outcome of the whole thing. I hope this problem has been resolved by now.

I would think your BIL's insurance would foot the bill. Specially since this was all done in preparation for the bone marrow transplant. Maybe the hospital sent a copy of it to his insurance as well.

I think it would not hurt to see if your brother in-laws insurace will pay for this bill. I thought all was suppose to be free by the way it was set up by reading your last posts. I guess that was not true. Does you wife have insurance and will her insurance pay for the blood work. I do know you can make payments a little at a time.

oh dear. that does not seem fair. If they wanted a bone marrow donor then i thought the patient would be responsible for the bill. I'm just thinking that if the parties were not related. they couldn't have expected an unrelated donor who was doing this out of goodwill to also foot the expensive medical bill? Perhaps you could check with the hospital what the usual practice for unrelated donors are. Cos if most donors knew that they would have to pay huge bills in addition for doing a good deed that they have absolutely no compulsion to do, think there would be many fewer donors.

First of all I am so sorry about the whole thing at least she tried to save him. The second thing I have to say is WOW. If that is how much they charge for lab test how much would the operation have been. I honestly dont know how the whole USA system works but I think if he had insurance that would cover this as well. What would happen if you cant pay?

You did the right thing. The insurance should pay the bill but if not I think they would want to pay it. I don't know why they sent the bill to you.