| "> | | | | might have to dispute. The Federal Reserve |
| If your husband or wife winds up with big medical | | | | reports that more than 50% of collection records |
| bills, did you know that you could be liable for | | | | and 20% of lawsuits that appear on credit |
| those debts? It's true. | | | | reports are due to medical debts. |
| With medical collection activity on the rise, it is | | | | Aside from monitoring your credit, you should |
| definitely possible that a hospital, clinic or | | | | contact your health insurance company to inquire |
| healthcare provider could come after you to pay | | | | about any medical invoices that they didn't pay. |
| off healthcare bills incurred by your spouse or | | | | Perhaps there was an oversight, a missing claims |
| even a former spouse. | | | | form, or simply some information that you can |
| In fact, in many states, healthcare providers use | | | | supply that would cause the insurer to cover |
| common law doctrines to force spouses of | | | | some of the outstanding healthcare bills. |
| patients to pay outstanding medical debts. Even if | | | | Know the Worst-Case Scenario |
| you don't live in a common law state, many | | | | Also, examine any of the other party's healthcare |
| states consider a wife or husband responsible for | | | | bills you may have copies of - to see if there |
| a spouse's medical bills, provided the two were | | | | were clauses or fine print that obligated you or |
| living together when the medical bills were | | | | your spouse (or both of you) to pay whatever |
| generated. That's the case in New Jersey, for | | | | was not covered by insurance. Sometimes, |
| instance, where the Supreme Court has ruled that | | | | healthcare providers will spell out what recourse |
| both spouses are liable for the "necessary" | | | | they may pursue in the event of non-payment. |
| expenses incurred by the other while living | | | | Aside from damaging your credit with collections, |
| together; and medical services are considered | | | | judgments or lawsuits, healthcare providers may |
| "necessaries." | | | | try to garnish wages, seize assets or put a lien |
| Fortunately, there are some efforts underway to | | | | against your home. These are extreme tactics, |
| safeguard spouses (and ex-spouses) when a wife | | | | and will certainly not be used in every case. But |
| or husband has racked up big medical bills. For | | | | you need to be aware of all possibilities. In the |
| example, many consumer protection agencies | | | | end, how aggressively a healthcare provider |
| advocate exempting spouses from medical debts | | | | pursues a debt will largely depend on the laws in |
| altogether. | | | | your state, the amount of debt owed, and the |
| What Your Former Spouse Should Do | | | | extent to which the provider thinks they can |
| If you are divorced, in order to protect yourself, | | | | shake money out your or your spouse/ex |
| you should talk to your former spouse (if that's | | | | spouse. |
| possible) and encourage him or her to set up a | | | | Resources for More Help |
| repayment plan for their medical debt. Suggest | | | | Lastly, if you do get socked with your spouse or |
| that he/she review their medical bills closely to | | | | former spouse's medical bills in the future, reach |
| make sure they weren't overcharged or | | | | out to a variety of consumer organizations that |
| double-billed for anything. And share with your ex | | | | can help you with this issue. Some groups that |
| the resources listed below. Ultimately, of course, | | | | have fought wrongful medical billing practices |
| what your ex-spouse does or does not do is out | | | | include: |
| of your control. But here's what you can control. | | | | - Access Project |
| How to Protect Yourself | | | | - Bill Advocates |
| First off, keep close tabs on your own credit files. | | | | - Consumers Union |
| Signing up for a good credit monitoring service is | | | | - Hospital Debt Justice |
| a way to do this. Unpaid medical bills don't usually | | | | - National Consumer Law Center |
| appear in your credit reports. But if they go into | | | | Medical debt is a growing problem in the United |
| collections, then those accounts will be listed in | | | | States. But by being proactive about healthcare |
| your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit files. | | | | bills, you can help limit the likelihood that |
| So be especially watchful for any collection | | | | medical-related debt generated by a spouse or an |
| accounts that may pop up in the future that you | | | | ex spouse will haunt you financially in the future. |