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If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s natural to wonder who will be responsible for paying your medical bills. The answer can depend on the state the accident happened in, the type of accident, and the type of insurance involved.
The experienced car accident attorneys at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers are ready to help you through this challenging time. We can advise you about potential avenues for paying your medical bills after a car accident, including private health insurance, government assistance, medical payments coverage, and medical liens, until you receive a settlement. Contact us today for a free case review!
How Are Medical Bills Paid After a Car Accident?
The party responsible for your medical bills after a car accident depends on the state you live in and the laws that apply to that state. Medical bills can be paid by an insurance policy, required by your state, or your health insurance plan.
In Georgia and the Carolinas, the at-fault driver’s insurance company should cover medical expenses, car repair and replacement costs, lost income, and other damages sustained by the accident victim. However, in most cases, insurance companies will not make an offer until medical bills and records have been submitted, and they will not pay until the case settles. Others may refuse to fairly compensate you until legal action is taken.
At-Fault vs No-Fault State Laws
South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina are at-fault states, meaning that the party responsible for causing the accident is liable for damages, medical bills, and other losses incurred by the other party. Generally; however, this only happens when the case settles.
In practical terms, that means time will pass between the date of your car accident and the date you may receive a settlement or verdict award. During that time, you are responsible for paying medical bills as they come in. If you have health insurance, your insurance company will pay for your treatment while you recover. Generally, you will be required to repay your health insurance company with the compensation you receive in a settlement.
In a no-fault state, both parties can file claims with their respective auto insurance companies to receive compensation. Such states generally require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance included in their car insurance policy up to a certain amount. The remaining balance of medical bills may be covered by other sources, depending on what additional insurance coverage you have, your health insurance coverage, and the coverage of the driver who was responsible for the accident.
Can I Use MPC/Med-Pay To Cover Medical Bills After Car Accidents?
You can use Medical Payment Coverage (MPC), also known as Med-Pay, to cover medical bills after a car accident. MPC is a type of optional car insurance coverage that can help pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
MPC coverage may help pay for a variety of expenses, including ambulance fees, hospitalization, surgery, X-rays, and rehabilitation. It may also cover expenses that your health insurance doesn’t, such as deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket costs. One advantage of MPC coverage is that it is typically no-fault, which means that you can use it regardless of who was responsible for the accident.
This can be particularly helpful if you don’t have health insurance or if your health insurance has high deductibles or copayments. It’s important to note that the amount of available MPC coverage may be limited, so it’s important to review your policy carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered.
Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills?
Whether health insurance covers car accident bills depends on the specific details of the policy and the circumstances of the accident. In general, health insurance will cover medical expenses resulting from a car accident, but the extent of coverage may vary. If you are injured in a car accident, your health insurance may cover the costs of medical treatment, such as hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic tests, and physical therapy. However, there may be limits to the amount of coverage available or exclusions that apply to certain types of treatments or injuries.
In many cases, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance may be responsible for covering your medical expenses, in which case your health insurance may act as a secondary payer. It’s important to review your health insurance policy to understand the details of your coverage and any limitations or exclusions that may apply. You should also consider obtaining car insurance with medical payment coverage or personal injury protection (PIP) to help cover medical expenses resulting from a car accident.
How Are Medical Bills Paid After a Car Accident if I Don’t Have Health Insurance?
If you don’t have health insurance and need medical treatment after an accident, our car accident attorneys at Sink Law may be able to help find providers who are willing to treat you on a lien basis. Most healthcare providers in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina can choose to accept a medical lien as payment for treatment.
This means that they will be guaranteed payment out of compensation recovered in your settlement once it’s recovered, but you won’t pay in the meantime. In some circumstances this may take the form of a letter of protection, which is a letter from your attorney to a medical provider promising payment for services once damages are recovered.
Let Us Worry About How Medical Bills Are Paid After Car Accidents
When you’re healing from a car accident, you should be able to focus on your recovery without worrying about who will pay the bills for your medical care. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced attorney on your side. We can help you navigate the complex laws involved with having your medical bills covered after your car accident and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, we’re proud of our track record of standing up for those injured in car accidents. You can trust us to be your partner throughout the legal process. Give us a call today at 888-612-7001 or contact us online to schedule your free case review!