Your parent's medical bill went to collections. Here's what to do
By the Folkswise team · Updated · 6 min read · How we write these guides
A collection letter is stressful, especially when it's addressed to your mom or dad. But medical debts sent to collections are often wrong: insurance wasn't billed, the amount ignores what Medicare allowed, or it's not your parent's debt at all. Slow down and check first.
1. Don't pay yet, and don't panic
Paying, or even promising to pay, before you've checked the bill can make it harder to fix later. Write down who contacted you, when, and what they said. Never give a caller bank or Medicare details until you've confirmed who they are; fake debt collectors are a common scam.
2. Ask the collector to verify the debt
Debt collectors must give your parent basic information about the debt (who it's owed to, how much, and how to dispute it) in their first contact or within five days after. If you dispute the debt in writing within the 30-day window described in that notice, the collector must stop collecting until it sends verification. Send the dispute by a method you can track, and keep a copy.
3. Check the bill against the insurance paperwork
- Find the matching Medicare Summary Notice or plan EOB for that date of service.
- Is the collector asking for more than the “maximum you may be billed” or “what you may owe”?
- Was every insurance billed, including Medigap, Medicaid or a retiree plan?
- Is your parent in QMB or Medicaid? Then they generally can't be billed for Medicare cost-sharing at all.
4. Go back to the provider
If the bill is wrong, call the original provider's billing office, not just the collector. Explain the error, ask them to fix the account and pull it back from collections, and ask for a corrected statement. Write down names, dates and reference numbers.
Also ask about financial assistance. Nonprofit hospitals must have a financial assistance (charity care) policy, and you can often apply even after a bill has gone to collections.
5. Credit reports and complaints
The three national credit bureaus have said they don't include paid medical collections, or medical collections under $500, on credit reports. If an incorrect medical debt shows up on your parent's report, dispute it with the credit bureau.
If a collector or provider won't fix a clear error, you can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Common questions
- Am I responsible for my parent's medical bills?
- Generally, adult children aren't personally responsible for a parent's medical debts unless they signed to be, for example as a guarantor or “responsible party.” After a death, debts are usually paid from the estate. Some states have filial responsibility laws, so if you're unsure, ask a legal aid office or elder law attorney; the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can point you to local legal help.
- Should I pay a medical collection to protect my parent's credit?
- Check the bill first. Many medical collections are billing errors, and the national credit bureaus have said they don't report paid medical collections or those under $500.
- How do I know if a debt collector is real?
- Don't use the phone number in the call or message. Look up the original provider's billing office yourself and ask whether the account was sent to that collector.