Am I responsible for my motherInLaw (sponsored by me with form I-134)medical bills from hospitals? All bills are with her name.
My parents-in-law came 6 months back in USA. Mother-in-law was very fine earlier, but got sick after 15 days of arrival. She had several back pain and I had to take her to Emergency Room of private hospital in North Carolina. Doctor suggested for CT scan, without knowing whether insurance covers for CT scan , we opted for it. Overall, hospital just gave pain killer and discharged her with rest instructions. mother-in-law still was in pain. I have shown her to other doctor after 10 days to get some relief before they went back to India.They billed around $8,000 for that. Hospital considered this is preexist issue. Insurance denied saying it is preexist issue, which is not true. Mother-in-law filed medical report amendment request for denial of preexist issue, but it also got denied by hospital. She had the medical issue in USA and it was not preexist issue. She just fell 1 month back in India before coming to USA, but didn’t have any issue that time. So now even insurance is not going to cover $8,000. Also insurance has less coverage, so other round they will NOT cover $8000 anyway.
I have sponsored their Visitor tourist visa with form I-134. They got valid tourist visa for 10 years, they are expected to come USA in future.
I haven’t signed any hospital documents. It was signed by Father-in-law. Father-in-law is retired person in India. Mother-in-law doesn’t work.
I cannot pay this amount as I have my expenses toward my family (wife, child) and their medical responsibility.
I am receiving mails from hospitals and collection agents with the name of mother-in-law.
Base on above facts, I have questions:
1. Am I responsible for my mother-in-law medical bills from hospitals? All bills are with her name, but on my home address. I have sponsored their visitor visa with form I-134.
2. If I am not responsible for mother-in-law’s medical bill and if I don’t pay attention to bills, will that create any problem to me/my wife/parent-in-laws in future? They might plan to come back USA for short visit in future.
3. Will there be any problem in my future VISA approval? I have applied for my VISA extension.
4. The hospital treatment was not worth and it was useless. Can I file unsatisfactory treatment to hospital? My mother-in-law in India.
5. Do I need to talk to hospital authority and ask for discount which I can bare to pay and close this matter?
6. I am getting hospital bills\collection agents letters on my home address. What steps I should take with those bills? What I should do when collection agent will reach on my contact?
7. I am planning to go back to India and come back after 1 year. Do you see any problem regarding this?