I am sorry to hear that. A friend of mine who moved from US to Canada moved after his mother had cancer on her 60s. She was retired by then after having a very successful career (C level on some manufacture company).
It's probably unsaid that she died with a good credit rating as well.
You don't necessarily need to pay back those loans, and most of the time the hospital has to negotiate a feasible repayment plan.
Medical bills have to lowest life-improvement rating of them all. That is to say paying off someones medical bills will have one of the lowest impacts to their lives compared to another financial intervention.
We had felt invulnerable until we weren’t. I’m sorry about your friend’s mom it’s vile and even more infuriating that there’s no clear “villain”. But you reach a point where you focus on what you have. Good doctors, admirable and compassionate nurses , loving and supportive family. The money is toilet paper really – we conceded that a long time ago. Make the most of it while you can but you can’t hold onto too tightly.
His mom died poor.
Crazy country.