Just after her mother died, an Iowa female figured out she owed about $200,000 to Medicaid : NPR

Just days after her mother passed away, an Iowa woman received the heartbreaking news that she owed the state Medicaid program over $200,000.

Idell Hubert, from Dubuque, Iowa, was shocked and dismayed when she received an invoice of over $200,000 for the amount her mother had received from Medicaid for long-term care services prior to her death. Her mother, Florence Hubert, had been receiving these services for the past four years.

The Iowa Department of Human Services explained that according to state regulations, when an individual receiving Medicaid services passes away, any costs associated with their care cannot be funded by the program. This unpaid balance is known as an estate recovery. Iowa law states that up to the total amount of Medicaid services received can be recovered by the state once the recipient passes away.

Hubert was devastated and unsure of how to handle the daunting debt. With the help of her lawyer, she was able to argue her case, binding her mother’s estate to the debt. Hubert provided proof that she was her mother’s only daughter, the only heir to her mother’s estate, and the only living person to be held accountable for the debt.

In the end, Hubert was successful and Iowa’s Department of Human Services agreed to a settlement of $30,000 for the unpaid debt.

Though Hubert was able to resolve the debt, this case is a reminder of the great financial burden that can befall a family after a Medicaid recipient passes away. It is also a reminder of the importance of estate planning, should a Medicaid recipient pass away with unpaid long-term care bills. [ad_1]

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