If you get into a car accident in Charlotte, you may worry how you’re going to pay for your medical care. You go to the hospital because you’re hurt and you need medical treatment. But you have no idea how you’re going to pay for it. You give the emergency room personnel a copy of your personal health insurance card. This way, you can hope that your visit will be covered. And, in most cases, it will be.
When you go to the hospital for treatment, they’ll ask what happened. When you tell them it’s related to a car accident, they won’t deny you treatment. However, they will put a note in your file stating that you were in a crash. This way, your Charlotte car collision attorney can refer to it later. But this also tells the insurance company and their coders that your injuries were accident related.
While the insurance company won’t deny your initial rounds of treatment, they won’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts. They fully expect to be paid back after you win or settle your car accident case. Thankfully, your attorney understands this. They know that, at some point, you will have to reimburse the third-party providers. This is true whether it’s your own insurance company or the state. If you have Medicaid or Medicare, the state will also be expecting reimbursement.
When you do settle your car accident case, your lawyer will make sure these third-party providers are paid.
Will My Primary Health Insurance Provider Cover My Treatment?
One thing a lot of people are afraid of is that their insurance company won’t cover their treatment. If you’re unconscious after your car crash, the ambulance will take you to the hospital. They may treat you without any information regarding your insurance company. You may need surgery or some other expensive treatment. How will the hospital know to bill your insurance company?
Once you are able to communicate, you can give them your insurance information. They’ll bill your provider but they will let them know that you were in a car accident. This way, the hospital knows they can file a lien against your lawsuit.
When you file your insurance claim against the other driver’s policy, they may pay it right away. If they do that, your insurance company will be reimbursed. The check will go to your attorney’s office. They can have you sign off on the check and send the portion to the third-party providers.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay the Healthcare Providers?
There is a chance that your settlement check will go directly to you. Or, the check will be made out to you and you’ll cash it. You may be tempted to not pay the insurance company back right away. This isn’t a smart move. The insurance company probably already filed a lien against your lawsuit.
The reason companies do this is because they need to protect their legal interests. After spending thousands of dollars on your medical bills, they’re not going to walk away. They need to make sure they are first in line when it comes to getting paid. They’re going to be paid before you get your share of the settlement proceeds. They can’t trust that personal injury plaintiffs are going to pay them back.
If a healthcare lien is filed against your lawsuit, you won’t have a choice. You’ll be legally required to pay the lien off before you can take your share of the settlement. Normally, you’re going to have to pay the entire balance. However, if you hire an experienced car accident lawyer, they can try to negotiate a lower amount with the insurance providers. This way, you can keep more of the money intended to cover your own damages.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer for Help to Settle Your Car Accident Case
If you get into a car accident, you’re going to need to go to the hospital. Even if you’re only there for a few hours, there are going to be hospital bills. These can end up in the thousands. The ambulance ride alone could cost more than $500. You don’t have the kind of money to pay these. And you shouldn’t have to. You didn’t cause the crash, right? Why should you pay?
The good news is that your insurance company will probably cover your treatment. However, they will want to be reimbursed at some point. Your personal injury attorney in Augusta, Georgia will make sure all third-party providers are paid promptly. This way, you don’t have to worry about them coming after you for money.
