My mother is currently taking care of my elderly father, who may be in the final stages of his life. In the past month, he's been in and out of the hospital for emergency visits and extended care twice already. My mother is 70, yet works part-time in a retail job making very little money to be able to make her mortgage payments. Her house has been refinanced in the past few years, is in her name (my father filed for bankruptcy twice in his later years), and is her only asset.
I am worried that my mother will be responsible for paying my father's medical bills (both now, and when he passes). I have been told by a sister-in-law who is a paralegal that there is a form that we can access online that would protect my mother from this liability. I'm not sure of the legal conditions for this, nor do I know what this form is, but wanted confirmation that this is the case. My parents live in Fairfax, VA.
I also wanted to know what steps are required for my mother to continue receiving my father's social security income upon his passing. They receive Medicare, and my mother is enrolled in AARP health insurance, but I am concerned these will not cover my father's hospital bills.
Many thanks for any insight or advice related to this in advance.
I am worried that my mother will be responsible for paying my father's medical bills (both now, and when he passes). I have been told by a sister-in-law who is a paralegal that there is a form that we can access online that would protect my mother from this liability. I'm not sure of the legal conditions for this, nor do I know what this form is, but wanted confirmation that this is the case. My parents live in Fairfax, VA.
I also wanted to know what steps are required for my mother to continue receiving my father's social security income upon his passing. They receive Medicare, and my mother is enrolled in AARP health insurance, but I am concerned these will not cover my father's hospital bills.
Many thanks for any insight or advice related to this in advance.