This is a long and crazy story so bear with me.
My FIL passed away almost 2 months ago after a relapse with Lymphoma. He was 76 and it was an extremely stressful last few months of his life....and here's why.
He was being treated for about 18 months successfully before being hospitalized 8 weeks before he died. After he was hospitalized, it was determined that the cancer was resistant to treatment and hospice was recommended. My FIL refused hospice and demanded treatment. The only treatment remaining to try was a CRAZY high dose chemo that multiple Oncologists strongly urged against. He demanded it. He received the chemo for about 5-6 days and then proceeded to die a painfully slow death continually for the next 3-4 weeks refusing hospice. While at the hospital, they continued giving him TONS of daily meds.....platelets, blood transfusions, TPN (IV nutrition since he stopped eating and drinking), neulasta shots daily, steroids, and on....and on....and on. His family (my husband and everyone else) urged FIL to stop the madness but he would not hear of giving up the fight even though every doctor said the fight was over.
Finally, when he was semi comatose....my MIL had him transfered to hospice where he died 24 hours later.
Here we are 2 months later and the total hospital bill is around 500K. He was on my MIL's insurance (she is working) and MIL is convinced that she will not owe a dime. She has not received a bill....but has received a letter stating that the insurance company is examining the treatments given as they believe many of them were medically unnecessary. I'm not sure how long this process will take - but DH and I are VERY concerned about her financial situation. My FIL was 15 years older than MIL and didn't believe in saving. MIL makes about 40k per year and owns three cars including a large Lexus SUV, Lexus sedan and a 1976 Corvette. FIL also just purchased a Harley Davidson that we are trying to sell. She used the majority of her savings to pay for his funeral. Luckily, she has a JOB and a paid-for house.....but that is all.
Just curious if anyone has experience with insurance and a major situation like this. I'm getting the feeling that she is going to be in a devastating situation.....which was our biggest concern when FIL kept demanding to stay in the hospital receving these treatments while he was dying. Doctors never said that insurance might not pay, etc.....but maybe that's not their problem or concern?
What could we be looking at here?