View Full Version : Medical bills and funeral costs.
Triple
03-31-2009, 10:31 AM
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Rider
03-31-2009, 10:36 AM
If there is nothing left to their estate I assume the hospital would just write it off.
bmblebee
03-31-2009, 11:19 AM
hospitals and other debt holders could come after an estate or spouse to pay medical and other bills
the cost of caskets are outragous.
the first time I was involved in picking one out was for my dad. we walked in to look at the different caskets and I seen the prices and like usual used my outside voice instead of my inner voice and said, where's the scratch and dent section. my brothers weren't too happy with me about that.
Homeslice
03-31-2009, 01:04 PM
the cost of caskets are outragous.
the first time I was involved in picking one out was for my dad. we walked in to look at the different caskets and I seen the prices and like usual used my outside voice instead of my inner voice and said, where's the scratch and dent section. my brothers weren't too happy with me about that.
:lol:
My granddad had plenty of money but he made his wishes known that he only wanted a pine box. But of course even that one was like $10K iirc
:lol:
My granddad had plenty of money but he made his wishes known that he only wanted a pine box. But of course even that one was like $10K iirc
the one we got was cheaper than that. some states you can get away with a lot less than others. in MO. the last I knew if your casket didn't have a seal you had to be in a vault so it's easier to just get a sealed casket or die in a state that don't need a vault or sealed casket.
Librarian
03-31-2009, 01:25 PM
seen the cost of pine lately? I'm going with cardboard. Something that says Hotpoint on the side, since that's where I hope to end up.
Rider
03-31-2009, 01:28 PM
I'm reading up on home burials. In 45 US states (Georgia included), families have almost total control over the body if they bury it on their own property, where zoning permits. Meaning, you don't have to embalm and in some places you don't even need a casket. Simple pine caskets are allowed almost anywhere.
Why not cremation? No box to buy, no plot of land to bury in, and I'm sure you have some kind of urn at home that you could use. My dog was $100 to cremate. Now I know a human would be much more but still it's probably the cheapest option.
shmike
03-31-2009, 01:30 PM
I love reading Triple's threads. :lol:
HRCNICK11
03-31-2009, 01:32 PM
The estate stands good for any and all bills. When the estate is gone the rest is written off. Social security will give a check to the wife or child for about $240 or so.
I Burried my mother when I was 19 and had to do some growing up during the whole thing. Funerals are expensive. I hope for your sake there was some life insurance, the hospital can't take that cause it would be paid to wife or kids of the person passed.
Always always always keep enough insurance to at least bury yourself so you don't burden your loved ones.
Papa_Complex
03-31-2009, 01:33 PM
He lost his house and doesn't own anything other than a $500 car. He is divorced, leaving only his daughters and brothers.
Divorced before the illness, or during ongoing treatment? It might make a difference.
Papa_Complex
03-31-2009, 03:08 PM
Way before the illness. This thing was diagnosed late last summer; they've been divorced for 15+ years.
OK, so community property isn't an issue then. If the divorce happened during the illness, then it might be argued that someone who knew he was dying was attempting to avoid placing the burden of payment on his surviving family. Any estate will be toast though, not that it sounds like there would be one.
askmrjesus
03-31-2009, 03:23 PM
seen the cost of pine lately? I'm going with cardboard. Something that says Hotpoint on the side, since that's where I hope to end up.
Sorry to hear about your old man Trip.
I'm with Libraian on this one. My wife is under standing orders to not spend more than fifty bucks on my funeral.
For the party afterwards, sky's the limit.
I was going to suggest the Nuptune Society (cheap burials at sea) but they don't operate in Gerogia yet. But, you could go DIY, and rent a motorboat.
JC
Gas Man
03-31-2009, 07:30 PM
Not all caskets are expensive... my fathers was about $1400.
Rangerscott
03-31-2009, 07:37 PM
If there is nothing left to their estate I assume the hospital would just write it off.
"Jerry. They just write it off."
You're body is gonna rot no matter what kind of sealed box you're going into. Its so stupid to spend so much on a casket. You decompose no matter if you're sealed or not. People dont realize there's a metal plate under you body to catch your homemade jam.
Put me in a wooden box or light a bonfire under me. Hell, stick me in a UPS cardboard box. Either way I'm dead.
bmblebee
03-31-2009, 07:37 PM
Sorry to hear about your old man Trip.
I'm with Libraian on this one. My wife is under standing orders to not spend more than fifty bucks on my funeral.
For the party afterwards, sky's the limit.
I was going to suggest the Nuptune Society (cheap burials at sea) but they don't operate in Gerogia yet. But, you could go DIY, and rent a motorboat.
JC
My Grandpa was Merchant Marine and he set everything up with Neptune Society before he passed. In Ft Lauderdale, they even provided the boat...but that was 20 years ago
Smittie61984
04-02-2009, 05:28 PM
I'm reading up on home burials. In 45 US states (Georgia included), families have almost total control over the body if they bury it on their own property, where zoning permits. Meaning, you don't have to embalm and in some places you don't even need a casket. Simple pine caskets are allowed almost anywhere.
Gotta love Georgia. Honestly Georgia is a pretty free state other than the nutcase of Atlanta which isn't really Georgia. And no beer on Sunday.
My Grandparents funerals were casket funerals. My cousin's Grandma (different side) was cremated and it was so much easier. And my relatives agreed.
I'm not sure about hospitals but I recall from a buddy who's father died and left $1,000,000 in debt that it somehow had to be compenstated. Even if they only got $100. He had $40k to work with and did what he could. I'll have to ask him about his situation next time I talk to him.
Tsunami
04-02-2009, 10:35 PM
now i can be totally wrong on this but i heard somewhere (can't remember when and where) the state can assist in the burial or cremation if you can afford it. Just like the John and Jane Does, they had to go somewhere.
I would ask the hospital and see what happens to unclaimed bodies and see what the state does with them.
101lifts2
04-03-2009, 01:36 AM
Ever consider a woodchipper?
Ever consider a woodchipper?
that is so wrong. :rofl:
cbrchick
04-03-2009, 08:28 AM
He wants to be cremated. We're probably going to do a "direct cremation," where his body is taken directly from the house or hospital to the crematory. No embalming, no viewing. My wife and I both agreed that viewing dead family members before burial offers no comfort or closure, especially when they look like wax figures that bear little to no resemblance to the person they once were.
He may have months, weeks, or just days left. The doctors won't say. Since he's homeless, it looks like he'll be coming back to OUR house if he makes it out of the hospital, which should be a real fucking treat considering I have no idea how to care for sickly people. We're trying to get hooked up with a hospice program, but they won't be there with him 24/7.
Sorry you are going through this. It's difficult for everyone especially when important decisions have to be made with end of life care. If your father-in-law is coming home to die, taking care of him really isn't all that difficult b/c being comfortable is the goal. Preparation is key. I imagine if you are going to provide hospice in your home, there are programs there that can help you get organized. I'm not sure what is available b/c I am in Canada.
I think one of the hardest things is going to be the emotional stress with the whole situation. A lot of it I am sure you are dealing with right now. Coming to terms with the diagnosis and treatment/lack there of will be a process. There's lots of information out there on the "dying process". Do a search, you might find it helpful.
Although all this sucks for many involved, you can have the opportunity to help your family have a "good death". I know this sounds morbid to a lot of people, but dying is natural and having personal control over some of it kinda makes this easier. Sometimes there's no dignity in dying in a hospital, attached to monitors and being in pain, holding on the life with futile treatments.
If you guys decide being comfortable and quality of life is the goal, taking him home and providing care can be a wonderful thing.
Anyway, there's lots of information out there.
His course of treatment and likelihood of survival will determine his care. But I think coming home to die is a wonderful thing. But I am a nurse and am willing to do that for my family. It wont be easy, some people can't. And that's totally okay. But you do what you are comfortable with and what you can handle.
Anyway questions, you can always PM.
Keep your spirits up, this can be a long process.
Kirsty
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