My 29 year old daughter has been fighting a rare brain/spinal cancer for over 5 years with experimental chemotherapy and just recently, full brain and spinal radiation. Prior to being diagnosed and starting her treatment, she was very frugal and responsible with her and her husband's finances.
About 4 years ago, she started undergoing a drastic personality change, along with the inability to empty her bladder, paralysis of her left leg, severe headaches, blurred vision, dementia, memory loss, depression and sleep disorders. During this time her spending habits changed dramatically and she began opening charge accounts everywhere, purchasing items off of Ebay and literally spending every cent that she had on her person. The accounts were set-up in her name alone, without the knowledge or consent of her husband.
She became legally "disabled" approximately 2 years ago and receives a disability check in the amount of $1,050.00 each month.
Her husband is a Staff Sargent in the Marine Corps and is currently stationed in North Carolina. He has served one tour in Afghanistan and is due to return in November. His insurance has covered the expenses of my daughter's illness (over $3 million) but he has had to pay for all of their travel expenses and lodging relating to her treatments "out-of-pocket" for the past 3 years as they were traveling to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for treatments. His insurance company has been very slow in reimbursing them for these expenses, so he has a very large credit card debt relating to these expenses.
My daughter has been staying with us for a month now, while her husband is engaged in training exercises and will be with us for another month. Creditors started calling our home number, so we started questioning our daughter about her financial situation. It appears (at least based on what she can remember) that she has a credit card debt of somewhere around $10,000.00 on a half-dozen accounts. Most of these accounts are over-due and amassing large penalties, interest and fees and the total monthly "minimum" payments for all of these accounts exceeds her monthly disability check.
Is there anything that can be done to reduce her debt or possibly have the companies "right-it-off" based on her medical condition and lack of financial resources?
Her oncologist says that she has around 2 to 3 months to live. What happens to her debt when she passes-on?
About 4 years ago, she started undergoing a drastic personality change, along with the inability to empty her bladder, paralysis of her left leg, severe headaches, blurred vision, dementia, memory loss, depression and sleep disorders. During this time her spending habits changed dramatically and she began opening charge accounts everywhere, purchasing items off of Ebay and literally spending every cent that she had on her person. The accounts were set-up in her name alone, without the knowledge or consent of her husband.
She became legally "disabled" approximately 2 years ago and receives a disability check in the amount of $1,050.00 each month.
Her husband is a Staff Sargent in the Marine Corps and is currently stationed in North Carolina. He has served one tour in Afghanistan and is due to return in November. His insurance has covered the expenses of my daughter's illness (over $3 million) but he has had to pay for all of their travel expenses and lodging relating to her treatments "out-of-pocket" for the past 3 years as they were traveling to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for treatments. His insurance company has been very slow in reimbursing them for these expenses, so he has a very large credit card debt relating to these expenses.
My daughter has been staying with us for a month now, while her husband is engaged in training exercises and will be with us for another month. Creditors started calling our home number, so we started questioning our daughter about her financial situation. It appears (at least based on what she can remember) that she has a credit card debt of somewhere around $10,000.00 on a half-dozen accounts. Most of these accounts are over-due and amassing large penalties, interest and fees and the total monthly "minimum" payments for all of these accounts exceeds her monthly disability check.
Is there anything that can be done to reduce her debt or possibly have the companies "right-it-off" based on her medical condition and lack of financial resources?
Her oncologist says that she has around 2 to 3 months to live. What happens to her debt when she passes-on?
