Senate Bill No. 1469, titled "An Act Concerning Medical Debt," proposes significant changes to the liability of spouses regarding medical debts. The bill stipulates that a surviving spouse will not be responsible for the medical debts of a deceased spouse, specifically concerning reasonable and necessary services from physicians or dentists, as well as hospital expenses. This amendment alters the existing law, which holds spouses jointly liable for such expenses while both are alive. The bill also clarifies that a spouse who abandons their partner without cause is liable for the support of the abandoned spouse, but this abandonment serves as a defense against liability for expenses incurred for the benefit of the abandoning spouse.

The bill repeals and replaces Section 46b-37 of the general statutes, with the new provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025. Notably, it deletes the previous subsection (d) and introduces a new subsection (d) that specifically addresses the exemption of surviving spouses from medical debt. Additionally, the bill indicates potential revenue loss for the UConn Health Center due to the reduction in collectible medical bills resulting from this change in liability. Overall, the bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on surviving spouses concerning their deceased partner's medical debts.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
HS Joint Favorable:
File No. 382: