Many people believe that if they are involved in a car accident that the at-fault driver’s liability insurance will pay for their accident-related medical expenses. While this may be the eventual outcome, you may have to take care of your medical bills yourself initially. Here are some options to pay medical bills after an auto accident in San Antonio or anywhere else in Texas:
Texas requires all auto insurance policies to include personal injury protection (PIP) coverage unless the insured rejects it in writing. This is a form of no-fault benefits so you can tap into it to cover your immediate expenses, regardless of fault. This coverage can help pay medical bills and compensate for a portion of your lost wages, up to your policy limits. This is a claim that you make with your own insurance provider.
Some motorists in Texas also have medical payments (MedPay) coverage. This is also a form of no-fault benefits that pays for medical expenses incurred due to an auto crash, up to your policy limits. You file this type of claim with your own insurer.
You may have personal health insurance that you can turn to for immediate payment of your unexpected medical bills. Your healthcare providers submit bills directly to your health insurance company, which can process and pay them.
However, your health insurer has the legal right to be reimbursed for the costs it fronted for your accident-related medical expenses. This can be accomplished through repayment as part of a settlement you later receive from the at-fault driver or by the insurance provider pursuing payment from the responsible auto insurer.
Deductibles and copays still apply, so you may be responsible for paying some of your healthcare costs out of pocket.
Another option to handle immediate medical expenses is to enter into a medical lien agreement with your medical providers. With this option, your healthcare provider agrees to provide treatment for you upfront but delay collection on payment for their services. They place a lien on any future settlement or verdict that you receive for your case.
Your lawyer can try to negotiate these liens and their value.
Even though the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider likely will not pay for your medical bills as they are incurred, it may ultimately be financially responsible for your accident-related medical costs. Typically, the insurance company will calculate a total settlement based on the value of your medical bills and other losses, and then you will be responsible from paying your bills from this settlement. Keep in mind that this is usually a single, lump-sum payment that you might receive at the end of your personal injury case.
If the at-fault driver had no insurance, you could file a claim with your own insurance under your uninsured motorist coverage. If they did not have sufficient insurance, you would file a claim with your underinsured motorist coverage.
At The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC, we focus on recovering compensation for all of our clients’ damages, starting with medical expenses. Our San Antonio injury attorneys can help prepare your legal claim for maximum value. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about our process and how we can help.
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