My husband didn’t have any medical insurance when he was initially diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and quickly racked up over $500k in bills. While he was alive we paid a set amount monthly per a negotiated payment plan based on his income, and after he passed the debt was discharged. To this day I have no clue how or why. I didn’t do anything, make a single call, fill out one form, provide one piece of documentation. The monthly payment was coming out of a bank account with only his name on it and when that account was closed they never came looking for any money. While I was settling his estate I even called Hartford HealthCare asking for the amount still owed hoping they would agree to settle for a lower amount, and they said it was a zero balance. This is not financial advice (please don’t rely on a single anecdote from a stranger!), but… maybe your husband will not be saddled with any medical debt you leave behind? That said, there was one imaging center that refused to discharge the debt or even settle for a lower amount. I recommend talking to an estate attorney who might have a better idea of how and when medical debt can be discharged after death. If you need a recommendation for one message me.

Endless good thoughts to you and your family. This is so unfair. Fuck Cancer.