Medical bills

There are some instances where a spouse can be held liable for the medical bills of the other spouse. Generally, this only applies when the other spouse is under a physical or mental disability and the medical treatment is to maintain their basic medical condition. This is called the doctrine of necessaries. If the collection agency is not pursuing you for these expenses then you have no obligation to pay. Filing for divorce might be your best option, but you should consult with an attorney before doing so to make sure you are not jeopardizing your property or support rights.

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Helena M. Nevicosi
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm

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Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
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The response posted above is based upon the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with an attorney, fully explain your situation, and allow the attorney sufficient opportunity to research the applicable law and facts required to render an accurate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action. The information posted on this forum is available for public viewing and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship with any individual. These answers are provided for informational purposes only, a person should consult with their own individual legal counsel before taking any action that could affect their legal rights or obligations.

My spouse and I have been separated for 1 year and 6 months. He has moved to FL since the first day of separation. My spouse is an alcoholic and incurred several thousands in medical bills. I am the primary insured on the health plan. Am I solely responsible for these bills that are now in collections? The collection agency is not billing me ,just him and he refuses to put in a change of address so the bills are all coming to me.