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Do You Have To Pay Your Medical Bills From A Personal Injury Settlement?

A common concern for victims who have recently been in a car accident is paying for medical expenses.

Medical bills can certainly add up, which is why having a plan to pay medical bills from a car accident injury is so important.

Unfortunately, the at-fault party doesn’t pay medical expenses as they come in. Victims are compensated once a settlement has been reached. But if your medical bills are coming before then, understanding how you will pay is essential. Today we’re going to provide you with a few options to pay your medical bills after a car accident to alleviate some financial strain and stress.

Understanding the Settlement Process and Who Pays Medical Bills After A Personal Injury Settlement

If you’re a victim of a car accident, recovering damages is a top priority.

Most car accident victims get a check-up from the doctor, even if the injuries are minor. But some types of car accidents can result in severe injuries, meaning even more doctor visits, tests, and ultimately more expenses.

Unfortunately, getting financial compensation isn’t a quick process. As a result, many medical bills begin to roll in before a settlement is even reached.

The general settlement process after a car accident includes:

1. After the Accident

Once you’re safe, you will need to do some things following the accident like calling the police to make a report, collecting evidence from the scene, collecting information from the at-fault party, and calling an attorney to help you navigate your settlement.

2. Sending an Insurance Claim Letter

In order to start the injury claim process, you will need to send the provider an insurance claim letter. This letter will enable you to request compensation for the accident. Victims can write the letter on their own, but hiring a personal injury attorney to write it for you can produce better results.

3. Wait for the Insurance Company’s Response

Once the demand letter is sent, you will need to await the insurance company’s response to your claim. They may accept or deny your claim. If your claim is denied, it’s important to consult with an attorney before taking any additional steps.

How to Pay for Medical Bills After a Car Accident

How you pay for your medical bills will essentially depend on the insurance coverage you have and whether you have insurance at all.

Your coverage can help you cover the cost of any medical expenses incurred while you wait for your settlement.

Here’s the reality: Your settlement or award for damages is supposed to cover expenses related to your injury. So, yes, you do have to pay your medical bills out of your personal injury settlement. And unfortunately, until you receive compensation for your injury, you will have to cover these expenses through insurance or out of pocket.

Let’s take a look at 3 potential options to pay your car accident medical bills.

1. Private Health Insurance or Medicaid

If you have private health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, you will be able to get your medical bills covered. It’s important to keep in mind that coverage will be subject to deductibles and other policy limitations. Check with your provider to see what deductibles you may need to pay.

Once you start receiving medical bills, you will have an opportunity to file claims with the insurance company. These claims request that the insurance company pay the medical bills according to the insurance policy’s terms. If the insurance claim is denied, the victim will need to pay themselves. But, the victim can then use their private health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare to cover car accident medical bills and only need to pay required deductibles.

2. Medical Payment Car Insurance

Medical payment car insurance is a part of some car insurance policies that can help you pay for your or your passenger’s medical expenses as a result of injuries sustained from a car accident. If you have this type of coverage, some or all of your medical bills from your accident may be paid, depending on your policy limits. There typically aren’t any deductibles. But once your policy limit has been reached, you will need to pay out of pocket.

Many people choose to purchase this type of insurance to use in conjunction with their regular health insurance to avoid high deductibles. Traditional health insurance coverage plus car insurance that includes medical payments can make it easier to cover unexpected medical expenses.

3. No Insurance

Not everyone has insurance, which can make it difficult to cover medical expenses.

If you do not have any type of insurance coverage, you will need to pay for your medical bills out of pocket.

Even though you will be responsible for paying, many hospitals give patients the opportunity to make payment arrangements to avoid falling behind on their medical bills.

Setting up payment arrangements is a great alternative for those without insurance.

It’s important to keep track of all of your medical bills and continue to make payments to avoid being sent to collections.

Hire a Trusted Attorney for Your Car Accident

Receiving medical bills can certainly be stressful, especially if you don’t have the money to pay them.

Settlements are designed to help victims get the compensation they deserve. Unfortunately, these settlements don’t always offer quick compensation.

It’s important to consider your options for health insurance coverage to help fill financial gaps as you await your settlement decision.

If you’ve recently been in a car accident, consider hiring a trusted car accident attorney who can help you navigate the settlement process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

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