Both of my parents received assistance with massive hospital bills.

At the start of the pandemic, my dad had a non-covid related ICU stay followed by 19 days in-patient that were really because there was no safe place for him to go so they kept admitting him to different departments to deal with non-life threatening issues until he got a Medicaid bed at a nursing home. The social worker told us that she had funds we could apply for and we never saw a bill.

In early 2023, my mom had a fall that revealed she had a silent heart attack as well as artery blockages and a bone spur threatening her spinal cord. She had multiple procedures and then got a UTI that caused her to mentally decompensate. She was hospitalized for 21 days before she was stable enough for rehab. We asked the social worker this time. She did whatever was needed and we never saw a bill.

It may come back to bite you later. Proceed with caution.

Of course you should take the money

I’m retired with company health care, waiting until I’m at least 65 to start taking my pension and Social Security. I owe over $5K for my out-of-pocket maximum from a recent $30K operation at a well-endowed university hospital (otherwise paid for by insurance). I have enough in my HSA to pay this bill, but because I’m spending down my 401K and a taxable account in lieu of pension/Social Security, I have low enough income to qualify for 100% assistance on my bill, assuming I apply.

Is there any good reason to not take this money?