Paying for Medical Expenses Before Your Personal Injury Claim is Resolved

Unfortunately, when you are injured, most medical practices will not defer payment to a later date, especially when you are dealing with medical specialties and surgical practices. Therefore, after an accident, how do you pay for your medical bills and still receive the care that you need. Thankfully, there are several possible options for payment assistance until your personal injury claim is settled.

Personal Injury Protection

The first option for paying some of your medical expenses is to use your personal injury protection offered by most auto insurance companies. However, it is necessary to note that these policies typically have a cap, and they will likely not cover all of your expenses, especially if your injuries are severe. Also, these policies pay bills as they come in, which means you do not have a choice of who gets paid first.

Medicare/Medicaid

Once you have exhausted your personal injury protection coverage, you can use government health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. These policies can be used like any other health insurance coverage, but they might require a notice from your attorney that your PIP coverage has been used in full.

Personal Insurance

Another option is to use your own health insurance coverage. However, you will need to specify that the injuries you are being treated for are the result of an accident. Your insurer will cover the costs as stipulated in your plan, but they will note the cause so if you make a claim and reach a settlement, they can recover their expenses.

Attorney Liens

Next, you can talk to your attorney about the creation of liens. Essentially, your attorney will secure treatment for you with the understanding that when a settlement or judgment happens, the medical providers will get paid first. While this is an option, it is typically reserved for cases that are cut-and-dry or a sure thing.

Cash

Last, you can pay cash. While not an option for everyone, paying cash is a great way to ensure that you receive the treatments you need with little hassle. However, if you do not have the money to pay out-of-pocket for everything, it is also possible to use a combination of the above arrangements to cover your expenses.Being in an accident is a scary thing, especially when you are injured and have little money to pay for medical costs. Fortunately, there are several options to help you get the care you need until your settlement comes through. Call a personal injury lawyer, to discuss any of these options further.