If your loved one incurred medical debt before passing away, their estate should pay any medical bills they owe. However, if the unpaid debt is larger than the estate’s value, the court decides which creditors get paid first and how much they get.
Consumers have rights under federal law about medical debt collection. Learn your state’s laws about who is responsible for the deceased’s medical debt, including laws about Medicaid recovery. Talk to an elder law attorney if you need help.