A car accident in Memphis can leave you facing a mountain of medical bills, adding extra stress to the pain and suffering you’re already enduring. Even a short ambulance ride and ER visit can cost you thousands, in addition to expenses for follow-up care, medications, and therapy. How can you get these bills paid so you can get your life back on track? How medical bills are paid after a car accident
Who Pays Medical Bills in a Car Accident?
If another driver caused the accident that injured you, their liability insurance should pick up the tab for your medical care. But before you can get this money, you’ll need to prove that the other driver was indeed the at-fault party in the accident. Don’t know how to pay your medical bills before receiving your insurance money? In the meantime, you may have to rely on other options to get your treatment costs paid, such as:
- Your health or auto insurance: If you have health coverage, your provider will pay your accident-related medical bills, minus any copays or deductibles. They may put a lien on your future settlement to recover what they paid.
- Med Pay: If you have Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay) on your car insurance policy, it will pay for your reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to your policy limits, regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
- Out of pocket: If you don’t have health insurance or Med Pay, you may have to pay for your medical care and then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurer.
- Medical liens: A lawyer can help you by negotiating a medical lien with your healthcare providers. You can promise them repayment from any compensation the lawyer secures through your personal injury case. That way, you get the treatment you need now without having to pay for it out of pocket.
Getting medical treatment after an accident is essential, even if you’re unsure how you will pay for it. Delaying or skipping care won’t just jeopardize your health, but also damage your legal claim against the at-fault driver.
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Paying Medical Bills from Your Settlement
If your lawyer wins your case by securing an out-of-court settlement, a portion of the money they recover for you will go to pay for your medical costs and bills. Do you have to pay back insurance if you get a settlement? You will likely have to pay back any entity that already covered your bills, such as your health insurer or Med Pay provider. These repayments are known as “subrogation” or “reimbursement.”
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What If Your Medical Bills Exceed Your Settlement?
In an ideal situation, your car accident settlement will include enough money to cover all your medical bills and then some. However, if your injuries are severe or you require extensive ongoing care, your expenses can quickly eat up a settlement offer, especially if the at-fault driver had low insurance limits.
If this happens, you may need to turn to alternative sources to cover your bills, such as:
- Your health insurance
- Applying for Medicaid or Medicare
- Negotiating a payment plan or discount with the hospital
- Using your Med Pay coverage
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Paying Bills While Waiting for Your Settlement
When and how medical bills are paid after a car accident? It’s no secret that car accident settlements can take time, especially if you’ve suffered major injuries. It may be months or even longer before you see a check from the health insurance company. In the meantime, your medical bills can pile up, putting you in a dire financial situation.
If you find yourself struggling to pay medical expenses while awaiting a personal injury settlement, consider these options:
- Use your health insurance or Med Pay coverage to get your bills paid.
- Ask your medical providers if they offer payment plans or financial assistance programs for uninsured patients.
- See if you qualify for Medicaid or Medicare based on your income and disability status.
- Borrow money from family or friends.
- Take out a personal loan to cover your living expenses.
- Ask your lawyer about pre-settlement funding or a lawsuit loan (be sure to ask about interest rates)
The key is proactively exploring your options and communicating with your medical providers. Many hospitals and doctors are willing to work with accident victims who are pursuing legal action as long as they’re upfront about their situation.
Get Help from a Memphis Car Accident Attorney
At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, we know how overwhelming it can be to face a mountain of medical debt after a serious car accident. You shouldn’t have to choose between getting the care you need and paying your bills. Our Memphis car accident attorneys can help you explore all sources of compensation and fight for the maximum settlement or verdict possible in your case.
Contact us today at (901) 526-2126 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our personal injury attorneys will review your case, answer your questions, and explain your options for paying your medical bills. You only owe our personal injury lawyers and our law firm if we recover money at the best possible amount.
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June 4, 2023
