My stepdaughter, who moved in with us, was seen in the emergency room in December. When I signed the consent for her to be seen, it showed her gaurantor as her mother, meaning that she was responible for her medical bills that insurance did not cover. Now the mother has called the medical center and refused to pay, and they are threatening to turn us in to a collection agency. There is no legal custody of the daughter, and the mother does not pay child support. My question is, since I signed the consent, which stated that the birth mother was the guarantor, and it was witnessed by the medical center employee, shouldn't that be a legal and binding agreement through both parties? We pay for her health insurance, car insurance, clothes, food, everything. Can they change us to her gaurantor without our consent?
2007-06-26 09:55:41 · 6 answers · asked by mazey1967 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Insurance
Yes. Since the child is apparently your husband's, he shares legal custody of her under law, in the absence of any other custody agreement.
As a biological parent of the child (who lives with you, no less), your husband and you, since you signed the authorization, can be held financially liable if the mother refuses to pay.
2007-06-26 10:03:06 · answer #1 · answered by acermill 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
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2016-05-28 12:37:52 · answer #2 · answered by Steve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either a parent, legal guardian, or guarantor must pay unpaid medical bills for the child. That being said...
You are most likely correct that this was ONLY a consent form (for admission to be seen) rather than a form stating the mother was guarantor and you were agreeing to that information as well.
If the mother were to be responsible, then the mother would have to sign the form (not you) to agree to those terms. You can't legally bind the mother to anything by signing your name to a piece of paper stating that she is legally binded to something. She would have to agree to it herself.
You ONLY signed a consent form to admit the girl. Any false information on the consent form which was made by a party other than you - is NOT your responsibility, nor are you legally bound to the false information.
Did the mother sign an agreement that she would be the guarantor of all monies owed outside of medical insurance? If so, then she is responsible for the medical bills.
Now, going back to the first sentence... Either a parent, legal guardian or guarantor must pay unpaid medical bills for the child. For that reason, the father or mother are first in line to be billed for payment owed.
Therefore, the mother might be responsible for the medical bills due to the fact that she is the mother - NOT due to the fact that you signed a consent form for admission to be seen.
2007-06-26 10:25:23 · answer #3 · answered by kNOTaLIAwyR 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm going to assume you are the stepmother, married to the daughter's organic father. you're able to no longer have signed the consent. you're no longer the new child's make certain. you probably did no longer have authority to commit the new child's mom to pay something. in case you signed the consent under a "loco parentis" thought, you're able to be able to (based on what state you're in) could have given the well being center good grounds to hold at the same time from you. The medical costs are a necessity for which the mothers and fathers are (in maximum civilized states yet i'm no longer particular approximately Texas) to blame. The medical center will sue your husband and the new child's mom because of the fact they're legally to blame. additionally they'll sue you. they could no longer have grounds to sue you, yet that has by no potential stopped a well being center from suing something that strikes and breathes. If, as you assert, you're paying for the new child's medical well being coverage, I take it this is constrained to the co-pay and/or deductable, that's properly a smaller volume than the cost you will incur if the case is going to sequence. (that's a important derog and can fairly take your honest score down 2 hundred factors or extra.)
2016-10-03 04:40:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, whomever brings the child in for treatment is responsible for any copays, etc. (Unless there's a written legal document stating otherwise.)
In actuality - whomever's name the insurance policy is in, and whomever's social security number is tacked to the policy is the guarantor.
Therefore, since she "technically" didn't okay it for her daughter to be seen in the ER, she's kind of not responsible.
2007-06-26 12:12:26 · answer #5 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, no, you cannot sign someone ELSE to guarantee the medical bills. If YOU are signing the paperwork, part of what you signed says YOU agree to pay the bill.
I can't obligate YOU to pay the bill by signing it, you can't obligate HER to pay the bill.
Your signature MAKES you the guarantor. Your signature IS the consent. You must not have read the fine print.
You're on the hook for this.
2007-06-26 10:08:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋