Man received late dad's medical bill of 3 cents — he had a straightforward response
The last thing a person wants to worry about when a family member passes away is their bills. Trying to overcome the grief and accept the absence of a loved one is a challenge in itself. Nevertheless, medical bills often chase bereaved members, forcing them to put a pause on their feelings and figure out a way to afford the amount. A man–who goes by u/PatrickGSR94 on Reddit–was shocked to receive a notice sent to his deceased dad to pay up his medical bills. However, the baffling part is that the bill was only 3 cents. Seeing how foolish it seemed to pester someone for a few cents, the man had a simple and on-point response.
Millions of people are affected by medical debt each year in the U.S., per Money Fit. Sometimes, if there is liability or a family member has signed to be responsible for their family member’s bills, the remnant amount is put as a burden on their shoulders after their loved one passes away, even after having insurance. Beth Schleeper, Advanced Coding Services owner, noted that healthcare facilities will try to clear medical debt from a deceased through assets, investments and even family, per KOLD. “We have to be particularly careful when we have lost a loved one. That we are still being diligent to ensure the bills we’re getting are valid. From a provider perspective, if the patient is deceased and that’s who I have the contract with, it’s truly in my best interest to negotiate with the family because at least I’m going to get something,” Schleeper noted.
Things were no different in this man’s case. He mentioned that his dad had passed away a year ago and he had received a medical bill of 3 cents. The bill was a long letter that included the amount and a clear notice to pay the bill. Moreover, they also asked the recipient of the letter to share the slip back along with the amount. The man was stunned by the ridiculous request of 3 cents for the services rendered. “They also say that this will be the only collection attempt and will not send it to claims. So what, even is the point? They just cost themselves extra money in postage,” he remarked.
Adhering to the notice, he decided to pay the bill and send a note with the receipt. He shared a picture of the bill and the cents, along with the handwritten 2-liner he added. It read, “Please note that ______ passed away over a year ago. Enjoy your three pennies.” Many advised the man to avoid paying the bill to avoid falling into future debt for his deceased dad. u/SmuhsinTime wrote, “Don't pay them or you will be on the hook for any remainder. They can't collect from a dead man, but they can collect if you start paying.” People also applauded his response for their unreasonable request, which clearly cost them. u/LunaLaLuz16 said, “Printing that paper cost more than 3 cents for them, how stupid.” A Reddit user joked, “Pay it one cent per month until it's paid off.” u/astew12 said, “So annoying, love your approach!”
