Paying medical bills while you wait for a South Carolina car accident settlement

If you were injured in a car accident in South Carolina, there’s a chance the insurance company offered you a quick settlement before you were even released from the hospital. As the medical bills start rolling in and you don’t have the cash to cover them, you might begin to feel a twang of regret over not accepting that initial offer. If you wait a few weeks, you might notice that your initial health care bills are already bigger than the initial settlement offer and you could have a lifetime of doctor’s visits ahead of you as a result of your accident.

Many clients are happy, once the medical bills start showing up, that they didn’t accept the other driver’s initial settlement offer, which often does not cover all the expenses incurred. However, that doesn’t make it any easier to pay those bills. So, what can you do about medical bills while you wait for your South Carolina car accident settlement?

Health insurance

If you have health insurance, either through your employer or on your own, use your insurance for everything. Some plans will require your settlement to reimburse the health insurance company before paying you, but some don’t.

If you have a high deductible and don’t have the cash to cover it, going through your health insurance will likely delay the health care provider’s billing to you by a month or more.

Medicare and Medicaid

These government-funded health care programs will typically cover your health care needs until you get your car accident settlement. Supplemental insurance plans might require the settlements to reimburse them before paying you.

Negotiate

Your health care providers are likely familiar with the circumstances surrounding your injuries. Talk with your doctors and their billing departments about signing a contract to pay them when you receive your settlement as long as they agree not to send you to collections before then.

If you’re not able to negotiate a complete hold, see if you can arrange to make small monthly payments until you receive your settlement.

Borrow

There are several lending agencies that will loan money for medical bills and other expenses to people expecting large personal injury settlements. Be wary of these institutions and talk to a couple before pursuing this kind of loan. Many people often find themselves in over their heads when getting a loan to cover expenses in the short-term. Talk to an experienced auto accident attorney about your options.

You might also be able to use a 0-percent interest balance transfer check from your credit card company or take out a personal loan from your bank at a low-interest rate.

Work on getting a good settlement

Work with an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer who will move your case along as quickly as possible so you won’t have to wait a long time for your settlement check.

The experienced South Carolina auto accident attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers can meet with you in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Orangeburg, or any of our locations in South Carolina, or in your home, at any time that is convenient for you. We can provide a free case evaluation that will help you understand your rights, the legal process, and what to expect.