Vic Chesnutt Dies; Fund Set Up To Help Family Pay Singer-Songwriter's $70,000 Medical Debt

Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt has died, according to tweets from his friends and an announcement posted on the Constellation Records website.

From the announcement:

In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about. Our grief is inexpressible and Vic's absence unfathomable.

Chesnutt slipped into a coma after taking a large dose of prescription muscle relaxants. He died in Athens, Georgia, on Christmas Day. Since being in a car accident as a teenager in 1983, Chesnutt was only mobile in a wheelchair.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Chesnutt faced $70,000 in hospital bills, a subject he brought up in a Pop & Hiss interview earlier this month. From the interview:

I was making payments, but I can't anymore and I really have no idea what I'm going to do. It seems absurd they can charge this much. When I think about all this, it gets me so furious. I could die tomorrow because of other operations I need that I can't afford. I could die any day now, but I don't want to pay them another nickel.

Friends have set up a tribute page to Chesnutt, where fans are encouraged to donate money to his family to help them fulfill the singer-songwriter's medical debt.

Comments

[bgofca]

11:52 AM on 12/28/2009

unless the family signed on as person or persons responsible, they are not legally responsible for the bill. It would be taken from his estate, which is whatever possessions, life insurance, royalties on his songs, etc. The hospital may try to pressure them into paying, but unless they signed an agreement saying they would pay, they are not liable.
we need a strong public option.
healthcare should be provided for all of our citizens.

[kareemachan]

10:13 AM on 12/31/2009

Fervently seconded.

[000Jade000]

03:49 PM on 12/27/2009

Pay off his medical debt? Hell no! His family should tell the insurers/hospitals, whatever to go straight to hell! Vic's dead. He owes nobody nothing. And they can't make his family pay!

[right Alice]

03:25 PM on 12/27/2009

One of the best singers I've had the privilege to see. Bless him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rPyQFmGmb4

[Littleguylobby]

03:06 PM on 12/27/2009

screw the health care industry up the arse

[mavissue]

12:28 PM on 12/27/2009

The Right is fighting Health Care reform for the the simple reason that it is a Liberal cause without looking at the benifits to the American people. The public option being their number one objection a public option is something that all these civil servants benifit from. I am state gov. employee with a public option it may not be called that but that is what it is.......... I don't know what it will take for these greedy politicians to grow a heart

[kk99]

12:04 PM on 12/27/2009

DO NOT PAY THOSE BILLS! The family doesn't owe them a dime, now that Vic is gone. The companies might harass them and insist that they do owe it, but they most likely do not owe anything on the bills of the deceased. Vic's estate will owe it, yes, but not them, personally, out of their current bank accounts. This is a tragedy and a failure of the system in place now, and that will continue to be in place.

[Leigh49]

02:08 PM on 12/27/2009

that's exactly what I thought. You can't force someone else to pay a dead man's bills.

[lyra201]

11:52 AM on 12/27/2009

we have lost a beautiful artiist.

and in that interview he clearly does not want those bills to be paid. so this group gathering funds should give those funds to his family for other things. let the bills go unpaid as he wanted. it is a protest to be honored.

[Epiphany2b]

01:49 PM on 12/27/2009

It's possible that if the insurance company sues to recover the debt they can attach anything the family owns to get their money, including any donations. BofA sold off a debt to a collector which was taken to court and they got a judgment -- only in my state if the sole source of income is SS disability it is considered judgment free. No property owned to be forced into sale. I think his friends are trying to save his family from this type of thing.

[scornflakes]

11:30 AM on 12/27/2009

His new album is tremendous. It's inspiring and provocative, clever and heartbreaking all at once. I'm saddened by his death, but gladdened that he lived long enough to create great music. He should be remembered with so much duly earned respect. Thank you, Vic.

[SeenItBefore]

11:13 AM on 12/27/2009

As if being a paraplegic for half his life wasn't punishment enough! And the cause is really, after 30 years, a red herring.

Aside from losing a great talent, the other story is why. The inability to pay your debts. With regrets, my mother brought me up with a sense of worth and honesty when it came to credit. When you borrow money, you pay it back, with interest.

Now I have accumulated close to $230,000 in medical debt for prostate surgery and continued chemo and radiation. Whether I will survive is still a toss-up. The stress is palpable. To date, every billing agency associated with the institutions which offered me help have double or triple billed. They refuse to even discuss their proceedures, bill me initially 6 months after a proceedure and insist it's 210 days overdue.

Last week, I was turned over to a collection agency for a $1,789.00 bill I paid via Visa 2 months ago. The Cancer Center refused to discuss and the collection agency won't stop even in the face of PROOF the bill was paid!

Welcome to America's health care!

[Chris Campbell]

11:30 AM on 12/27/2009

I am very sorry to hear of your situation. Man oh man do people need to be strong to remain sane given our system. I wish you well.

[Chris Campbell]

10:42 AM on 12/27/2009

This is a terrible loss for music and art. That said, Chesnutt's contributions are already massive. From "West of Rome" to "The Salesman and Bernadette" and on, Vic has released one fantastic record after another. And he's never held back his demons, insecurities and desires. A true human being.

I have posted a number of interview/videos, etc. on my blog at ccsbandwagon dot com.

Rest in peace, Vic.

[LooktotheLeft]

10:32 AM on 12/27/2009

One more victim of America's for-sh*t health care system. It was less than a month ago Vic was featured on "Fresh Air" w/ Terry Gross and I had an opportunity to hear his tragic story first hand....how he could not keep up w/ payments for already rendered health care, had been dropped from his health insurance payment, needed additional surgery but could not afford it. Thus, seemingly despondent and without options, Vic decided to "check out". This is our America....with millions of Americans in similar "straits"...and with a "leadership" like Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, and all Republicans who will fight the best interests of America tooth and nail in order to serve their own singular interests: money...namely theirs, and their ties to health industry lobbyists.

Rest in peace Vic.

[JeanRR]

11:05 AM on 12/27/2009

Well said. I agree.

[TJCole]

10:24 AM on 12/27/2009

A tragic loss...

[LexLuthier]

08:11 AM on 12/27/2009

From this morning's Athens Banner/Herald:

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/122709/new_539957002.shtml

[peowlemeow]

03:19 AM on 12/27/2009

The guy took his bills pretty serious.70k providing incentive to hound a man to his grave.Truly American and truly horrible.That guy checked out like a hillbilly.I have to be away from people that are against universal health care.Seems like this guy couldn't be.My condolences.

[mtm4882]

01:07 AM on 12/27/2009

Brilliant artist. I am sorry I never got the chance to see him perform live.