What Other Medical Expenses For Car Accident Injuries Are Covered By Medicare
In general, any medically necessary treatment your doctor recommends for your car accident injuries is covered under Original Medicare . Specific benefits include:
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Short Answer Is You But Then The At
If you are injured in a car accident that is not your fault, the other driver is responsible for your medical bills. However, the other driverâs insurance wonât pay your doctors directly or reimburse you after every doctor visit. And a settlement with the other driver’s insurance could take months, or even years, depending on how long your medical treatment takes. In the meantime, most doctors and hospitals want to get paid right away and if they don’t, they could send you to collections.
Thatâs where YOUR insurance steps in. If you have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, you should submit your doctor bills to them. If you have “Medical Payment” coverage under your own car insurance policy, you can use it to reimburse you for any out-of-pocket costs AFTER health insurance has been paid, such as health insurance deductibles or co-pays.
If you don’t have health insurance, Med Pay coverage, or any other means to pay for necessary medical care after an auto accident injury, Gama Law Firm can get you the treatment you need with medical professionals who will agree to wait for your settlement to get paid. Gama Law Firm can also help keep those bills you’ve already received out of collections.
Compensation For Lost Wages And Earning Potential
Lost wages from missing work due to a disability or medical treatments are a significant part of many personal injury claims. Plaintiffs left with long-term disabilities may be able to sue for decreases in future earning potential. Income loss compensation amounts are calculated based on your usual income and employment prospects.
If your injuries prevent you from performing your usual tasks at home, you may have to temporarily or permanently hire someone else to do this work. You may be able to seek compensation for this expense, too, as part of your car accident claim.
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Why Medical Bills From Your Car Accident Should Be Submitted To Your Group Health Insurance
The bottom line is to submit the medical bills from your car accident case to your group health insurance carriers for immediate payment.
If you think you have a personal injury case resulting from a recent car accident, please contact the car accident injury attorneys at Lipkin& Apter. We will work quickly and responsively to address your situation. There is no cost to you for a consultation with us.
Youre Involved in a Car Accident. Fortunately you have Insurance
Youre involved in a car accident caused by another drivers negligence. Your leg is broken. You need surgery. Five days later you are discharged from the hospital. In a couple of weeks you begin physical therapy to increase the strength and range of motion in your leg. Therapy lasts four months. The medical bills start coming in, and you cant believe how much they are: $78,000.00. Fortunately, you have health insurance benefits through your employer. You also have medical payments coverage from your own car insurance policy. But primarily you are thinking that since the car accident was caused by the other drivers negligence, HIS insurance ought to pay your medical bills as they come in. Worse yet, you begin to receive collection letters seeking payment of your medical bills. What should you do?
The Bills are Your Responsibility
Submit Your Bills to Your Health Carrier
Common Fund Doctrine
Worst Case Scenario Leave Your Bills Unpaid
The Bottom Line: Submit Your Medical Bills for Payment
Always Seek Medical Attention Immediately After An Accident
Typically, health insurance covers medical treatment for injuries, regardless of whether or not they were caused by a car accident. Always seek medical attention right away after a car collision, even if you feel fine.
âThe negative physical effects of a crash arenât always immediately apparent, and a hospital has the tools to detect injuries you may not feel due to adrenaline or shock.
An insurance adjuster may suggest you wait for their referral to see a doctor, but this could potentially damage your claim. The more time has passed between the time of your accident and the time of medical care, the easier it will be for the auto insurance company to claim your pain and suffering was not caused by the accident.
Health insurance carriers can recover the cost of your medical expenses through a process called subrogation. If your provider successfully recovers these expenses, they will have to divide the amount received proportionally. In this way, any funds you paid towards a deductible are returned.
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Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries
Yes, health insurance can help pay for medical costs associated with a car accident. Depending on your state and coverages, your auto insurance policy may also cover accident-related injury costs, so your health care provider will typically request your health insurance and auto insurance information if you seek care for injuries related to a car accident.
How And When To File An Accident Report
Following an accident, you must file a report with your broker, agent or insurance company within seven daysor as quickly as possible after that. Failing to report within a reasonable amount of time may result in your claim not being honoured.
You will need to provide the following when making your report:
- Your policy number
- Make, model, year, registration and licence plate number of the vehicle
- Accident details drivers name and licence number
- Date, time and location of the accident
- Extent of any injuries
- Extent of damage to the vehicle
- Your description of the accident
- Names and drivers licence numbers of all drivers involved
- Names of insurance companies, and auto insurance policies of all drivers involved
- The name and badge number of the investigating officer if the accident was reported to police
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Example: $6000 Bill With An Emergency Medical Condition
Youre hit by a careless driver. Youre insured with Progressive and your emergency room bill is $6,000.00.
Progressive will pay the hospital $4,800. Youre responsible for the remaining $1,200.
How did we get this number? Simple: 80% of $6,000 is $4,800.
You can file a liability claim against the negligent party for the remaining $1,200. Thats besides any claim you have for bodily injury, pain and suffering, lost wages, etc.
What Is A Health Insurance Deductible
A deductible for health insurance refers to the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins. For example, you may have a $1,000 deductible included in your insurance policy. This means you must pay $1,000 on your own before your insurance will begin to pay for your medical expenses.
Because many health insurance options have a deductible, its often the best option to use auto insurance coverage for medical costs after a car accident if available. This way, you can cover the bills quickly without having to pay out-of-pocket.
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Will I Still Have To Pay Even If I Have Health Insurance
In most instances, what is covered or not will depend on the actual terms of the health insurance policy itself. Depending on the situation, injured car accident victims may still have to pay:
-
Deductible amounts under their health insurance policy
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Any required co-payments under the health insurance policy
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Charges and expenses not typically covered by the policy
Car accident victims can often recover these out-of-pocket expenses by filing a lawsuit with the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier.
Know What Your Insurance Plan Covers
To best know which form of insurance will cover what, carefully review both your auto and your health insurance policies. This can help provide basic background information regarding the question, “Does health insurance cover car accident injuries?” Certain health insurance carriers classify auto accident injuries as secondary coverage. These policies wonât cover your medical expenses until the auto insurance limit has been met.
In Texas, if you are found to be at fault in an auto accident, it is your responsibility to pay for property and bodily damage to the other party.
Texas current minimum liability insurance is known as 30/60/25 coverage. This limits payments to $30,000 for each injured person, totaling $60,000 per accident and $25,000 to cover property damage to the other party. While this may seem like a good amount of money, it may not be nearly enough depending on the severity of your injuries.
âTo illustrate, say you suffer the misfortune of a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury $30,000 wonât cover the cost of rehabilitation for one month, let alone a lifetime. Itâs a smart idea to include Personal Injury Protection or medical payments coverage to your policy. This can help offset potential costs associated with a wreck.
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What Is Personal Injury Protection
Personal injury protection, or âPIP,â is a type of automobile insurance that provides reimbursement for medical expenses and certain other costs after a car accident. PIP coverage in Texas pays for you and your passengers if an accident results in injuries, no matter which party is at fault.
âDepending on the exact terms of the policy, PIP can cover:
- Reasonable medical costs, such as surgeries and other treatments
- Ambulance services
Liability Coverage And Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you are at fault for an accident, your bodily injury liability coverage will pay for the other drivers medical expenses. Keep in mind that you will be held legally liable for all of their medical expenses associated with the accident, so it is important to carry the highest level of liability coverage that you can afford.
If the other driver was at fault and you end up submitting the claims through your health insurance, your coverage will pay for your medical expenses according to the limits of your policy.
Once the car insurance claim has been filed and liability has been determined, your health insurance company will take the other driver to court to have their expenses reimbursed under the other drivers liability coverage. This process is called subrogation.
But what if the other driver didnt have insurance? You can take them to court, but it could be years in the legal system before a settlement is reached. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage your car insurance will pay for your medical expenses up to the limits of your policy. Your UM coverage is set at the same limits as your bodily injury liability coverage, which means having higher levels of bodily injury liability coverage will also increase your UM coverage levels.
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If Your Injury Is A Sprain Strain Or A Whiplash Associated With Disorder I Or Ii
- Your primary health care practitioner does not have to seek approval of the insurer for payment for treatment of these injuries if you provide notice of your claim and choose to follow the protocols.
- Your primary health care practitioner will be able to bill the automobile insurer for all treatment services outlined in the “Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols” that are not covered by Alberta Health Care Insurance. These protocols have been developed in consultation with primary health care practitioners and are based on the best research and evidence currently available.
How Does Auto Insurance Cover Car Accident Injury Bills
Here’s how your auto insurance coverages might work to cover your injury costs, depending on your state laws and which coverages you have:
- Medical payments coverage: MedPay can help pay for your and your passengers’ car accident medical expenses, regardless of fault.
- Personal injury protection coverage: PIP can help pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses and lost wages resulting from a car accident, regardless of fault.
- Other at-fault party’s liability coverage: If the other party is at fault, their liability coverage can help pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses and your vehicle’s damages.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: If the other party is at fault but doesn’t have enough liability coverage to cover your damages, UM/UIM can help pay for your and your passengers’ injuries and your vehicle’s damages.
If you suffer an injury in a car accident, contact your insurer as soon as possible to start a claim and discuss how your auto insurance coverages can apply.
Need health or auto insurance? Quote health insurance online or give the professionals at eHealth a . You can also get a car insurance quote online or to talk with a licensed representative.
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How Can I Make Sure My Health Insurance Covers Expenses After A Car Accident
If you need medical care after a car accident, its essential to get help right away. Hospitals and doctors may not require payment upfront to treat your injuries, especially if you need emergency care. Payment for your medical care may come from several sources, including your own health insurance, after youve been treated.
When using your health insurance for car accident injury expenses, you should follow the same steps you would for any condition or illness. Generally, these steps are:
In some cases, your medical insurance will cover the cost of treatment but then claim reimbursement in the form of subrogation.
When Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries
There are two specific circumstances where health insurance cover cars accident injuries and a victims medical care and treatment. They involve:
- Coordinated No-Fault benefits When the victim coordinated his or her No-Fault coverage and medial insurance coverage so that, in return for a lesser premium, medical insurance will pay first after a collision. No-Fault will pay only after the medical insurance had been exhausted.
- Excess medical bills When the victims accident-related medical bills exceed the No-Fault PIP medical benefits level in the auto insurance policy through which the accident victim is seeking benefits and the victim has medical insurance that will provide coverage.
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What To Expect If Youve Been Injured
In Ontario, Statutory Accident Benefits Coverages are provided by law under every auto insurance policy. These benefits provide compensation, regardless of fault, if you, your passengers, or pedestrians are injured, or die as the result of your accident.
If you are injured in an auto accident, you may be entitled to the following benefits:
- Income replacement: replaces job income you cannot earn while recovering
- Caregiver: provides compensation if you are required to leave work to care for an injured member of your household
- Non-earner: provides compensation if you are completely unable to carry on a normal life, and do not qualify for an income replacement or caregiver benefit
- Medical: pays for medical expenses incurred through your injury
- Rehabilitation: pays costs incurred during rehabilitation
- Attendant Care: pays some of the costs of an aide or attendant
- Compensation for Other Expenses: may pay for the cost of family visits during treatment or recovery, some housekeeping and home maintenance, the repair or replacement of some items lost or damaged in the accident, or lost educational expenses.
What Factors Affect How Much Someone Can Sue For In A Car Accident In Nj
How much money you can sue for in a car accident claim in New Jersey depends on several factors, including:
- How much insurance coverage is available
- How serious your injuries are
- How much your medical expenses are
- How significantly your injuries affect your life
- How state laws involving time limits and damages caps apply to your claim
- Who is at fault for the accident
The value of every car accident claim is different, which is why our attorneys treat every client as an individual with a unique set of circumstances, crafting a legal strategy that maximizes their potential for recovery. Our goal is always to identify and fully document your damages so you receive every dollar of compensation you deserve.
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Always Seek Medical Attention After A Car Accident
Within 24 hours of the accident, even if you dont feel injured at the time, you should be seen by a medical professional to make sure there are no lingering or hidden injuries. Adrenaline and shock can mask the pain of injuries, which means they can surface hours or sometimes days after the incident. Hidden injuries can become permanent if they are not treated early enough.
Dont brush off pain or assume that you will get over it. You are dealing with the only body youll ever get, so make sure that it is properly taken care of. Never assume that you arent hurt until a doctor clears you.
Do not put your health at risk out of fear of high medical bills, rehabilitation, or surgery. Putting off seeing a doctor after an accident could limit your ability to claim damages that you may be entitled to and could put your health, livelihood, and family at risk.
If you are worried about how to pay for your medical treatment, contact Scholle Law to discuss your options today. Well find the best option to maximize your ability to collect compensation in a car accident claim while you focus on healing.