Once other higher priority debt has been taken care of, pay any expenses from the deceased's medical treatment.

These bills include, but are not limited to:

• Hospital


• Nursing home


• Hospice


• Long term care facility

These bills can be paid in a variety of ways, depending upon the circumstances of the debt.

Payment types include, but are not limited to:

• Private health insurance or Medicaid may pay these debts, but depending upon the circumstance of the debt they may also seek repayment


• In Community Property States, the debt of one spouse may be equally owned by the other


• Some states require that the surviving family, specifically Next of Kin, are responsible for medical debt incurred by nursing homes or long term care facilities


• If the debt was co-signed by another person, then it may be the responsibility of that individual

The final ruling in any of these situations is based upon certain circumstances, so speak with a Probate Attorney for more information before continuing.

See the links below to search for local attorneys and learn more about settling medical bill debt for a deceased person.