Do you pay for your adult child’s medical bills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like unreimbursed therapy bills? They are still on my insurance But have their own job.

Unless they have a good job, therapy is a luxury they probably can't afford without someone footing the bill

+1 I would siesta hrlp if they were struggling to pay therapy bills. I would not want it to be a barrier to them not accessing care. It’s hardly “pathetic.”

I would if I could afford it.

[Anonymous]

Paying kids (and grandkids) medical bills is tax efficient - we do it where we can (we also pay grandkids’ private school tuition and plan to pay grandkids’ college tuition).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paying kids (and grandkids) medical bills is tax efficient - we do it where we can (we also pay grandkids’ private school tuition and plan to pay grandkids’ college tuition).

How is it tax efficient?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paying kids (and grandkids) medical bills is tax efficient - we do it where we can (we also pay grandkids’ private school tuition and plan to pay grandkids’ college tuition).

How is it tax efficient?

You exclude it from lifetime giving. So for example, my parents paid for all my kids braces, pay for very expensive OT for one kid, and paid for an expensive surgery for my niece, and all of this is transferred without tax implications.

[Anonymous]

My parents paid for some dental work I had done shortly after I finished college. I had my own insurance but it only paid 50% of the procedure. The bill was maybe $6k, but I also didn’t ask and have never asked for any money. My mom just offered to pay and sent me a check. I’m not sure I would pay small bills but larger ones that they might not get the care they need to avoid paying I probably would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like unreimbursed therapy bills? They are still on my insurance But have their own job.

No, I'd tell them to find an in network provider if they don't want bills.

I keep my kids on my insurance till they fall off at 26 (even if they get it at work, because then it is secondary) but I don't pay the bills-they do. If my dc in school had a big bill, yes I'd help with that. But the working adults pay-it's good insurance so the bills are not crazy.

There is something cruel about getting your kid to rely on a luxury like therapy and then pulling it away. Unless they are doing very well, most young professionals can not hope to afford therapy

Where did it say I was pulling away therapy? I said they have to use an in-network provided, just like 'I' do.

[Anonymous]

Until 24 or 25, I helped with big bills. Not copays after college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Paying kids (and grandkids) medical bills is tax efficient - we do it where we can (we also pay grandkids’ private school tuition and plan to pay grandkids’ college tuition).

How is it tax efficient?

+1. There is a limit on how much $ you can pass on tax free to your kids. If the estate will be more than that limit at death, then the overage will be taxed and estate tax rates are high. During a person’s lifetime they can gift approx. 15K per person per year without anyone paying taxes. Plus they can pay for medical expenses and educational expenses directly and it is not counted as a gift. This is one of many ways wealthy people shelter their money from taxation. It is a major benefit of inter generational wealth, and an example of how structural societal limits on wealth building that POC encounter ripple for generations.

[Anonymous]

Yes I do if he needs help.

[Anonymous]

22 yo DD has access to insurance through her employer. However, I keep her on my plan at no extra cost to me, and she is able to max out her 401K. She has an HSA credit card that pulls from my account. I want my kids to go to therapy and doctors and specialists if needed, and don’t want a copay to discourage them from going. In particular, with therapy, some mental health conditions may lead someone to think they can’t go to therapy for fear of cost. May seem irrational to me, but all or nothing thinking can be very debilitating, even if high functioning in other areas.