When you are injured in an accident, one of the most important first steps to take is seeking medical treatment. Not only is this important for your potential case, but it is also important for your overall well-being.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, medical treatment may be expensive and may have you asking how you will pay for it.
Below, we discuss the available options for people who have medical bills piling up. Remember, even if your personal injury claim is successful, you will not receive compensation until the legal process is complete. Hospitals and doctor’s offices are still going to want their money for providing treatment.
Personal Injury Protection
In Texas, liability insurance is mandatory since Texas is an at-fault state. Liability insurance pays for damages to another motorist in an accident caused by the policyholder. If you were injured in a crash caused by another driver, you would file a claim against that driver’s liability insurance.
However, there are additional coverages you can buy to pay for your damages while you pursue a settlement from the other driver’s insurance policy. For example, personal injury protection (PIP) covers your medical bills and lost wages no matter who was at fault for the crash. That means you do not need to prove fault to obtain compensation.
If your medical bills are piling up and the insurance company is dragging its feet on reaching a settlement, you may want to consider using your PIP coverage.
Health Insurance
Another option for paying medical costs while you are waiting for a settlement is using your own health insurance. Depending on your policy, your treatment for chiropractic care, physical therapy, surgery or other medical interventions may be covered.
However, if you use your health insurance provider to pay for medical treatment, they will probably place a lien on your settlement to recover the money they paid.
Working with an attorney to come to an agreement with a health insurance company on this matter may be in your best interest because the insurer may be willing to negotiate a lower price for the treatments.
Payment Plan Agreement
Another way to pay for treatment while awaiting an insurance settlement is by negotiating a payment plan with the medical provider. This means you agree to pay a certain amount each month instead of having to pay the entire bill immediately.
You could also work an agreement to pay your bills once you receive a settlement. While waiting to reach a settlement, the providers agree not to send your bills to debt collectors. Medical providers may also place a lien on your settlement, just as insurance companies may do.
Your attorney can help you work out an agreement with your medical providers and ensure they are paid if and when a settlement is reached.
Other Possible Options
If you have family members or friends willing to help you with your medical bills, that may be another option. You could agree to pay them back once you reach a settlement with the insurance company.
If you are eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, you may be able to use this coverage. However, as with other forms of insurance, you may be required to reimburse the insurance provider after you receive a settlement.
We May Be Able to Help. Call Today to Learn More
Seeking medical treatment is important. Figuring out how to pay for that medical treatment while waiting on a verdict or settlement can be stressful, especially as the bills pile higher and higher with no cooperation from the insurance company.
Let the Fort Worth car accident attorneys help you through the claims process. Our attorneys have decades of experience dealing with insurance companies and can discuss options for keeping the bill collectors at bay while the legal process continues.
We do not charge you anything up front and only get paid if we recover compensation on your behalf.
Call today for help: (817) 920-9000.