Car Accident Lawyer
After you’re injured in an automobile accident, you may get stressed over the amount of medical bills piling up. The good news is your car accident lawyer can work to help you receive the compensation you deserve. In the meantime, you’ll need to pay those bills, so what resources can you turn to?
Health Insurance Coverage
If you have health insurance coverage, you may be able to receive help paying your medical bills through your health insurer. In many cases, when your insurer knows the bills are due to a car accident injury, they will put a lien on your settlement so they get reimbursed after your case is complete. For this reason, it’s important you let the insurer know your medical issues are accident-related. It’s possible your lawyer can negotiate a reduction in the lien so your entire settlement doesn’t go to your health insurer, but that’s not always a guarantee.
Medicare or Medicaid
Both the Medicare and Medicaid programs are government-funded insurance programs for individuals who qualify. There are very specific rules that apply to these cases, so it’s important you speak with a case worker to understand exactly what you need to do. It’s possible that you’ll have certain obligations, such as paying some of the costs back to the government if you receive a settlement, so those are things you should consider.
Med-Pay Benefits
Even when an accident isn’t your fault, it’s possible your auto insurance will step in to help cover some of your medical costs. Many car insurers offer something called med-pay benefits. This is coverage that reaches a maximum, but you can use it until you reach that amount, which is often somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000. It may not cover all of your costs, but it should help so you don’t end up in trouble over your bills. Again, it’s possible your auto insurance provider will put a lien and ask for reimbursement if you receive a settlement, so be prepared for that.
Payment Plans
Speak with all your healthcare providers to find out what type of payment plans they offer. Some could offer no-interest payments for a certain period of time. Others may include a discount for bills paid at the time of service. Others might hold off on billing until you reach a settlement. It depends on the policies of your healthcare providers, as well as your particular situation.
Contacting a Lawyer
Your car accident doesn’t have to bankrupt you. To learn more about some resources for getting your medical bills paid after being injured, contact a Philadelphia car accident lawyer today.
Thanks to Wieand Law Firm for their insight into personal injury claims and paying your medical bills after a car accident.