I had a lot of hospital bills to pay on my own with my 20% co-pay from Medicare. Maryann had contacted them before she died and set up a Monthly Budget Payment for each of us. I think that maybe the only difference between my hospital & Doctor bills from this woman was that they had received 80% of it already from Medicare, so they did not give Maryann a hard time setting up the payment of the balance. It is important however that you contact the hospital & Doctors to let them know you are willing to pay, just that you cannot pay it all at once and there is a certain amount you can pay each month.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110306/NEWS03/103060305/-1/ (http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110306/NEWS03/103060305/-1/)