Paying Your Medical Bills Post Car Accident

When you find the medical bills coming in more quickly than you can pay them following a car accident, you might start looking for alternative ways to pay. Perhaps you’re waiting for a lawsuit to get settled, but even so, you still have to stay current on your bills. What can you do? The following are a few ideas you could look into trying.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection insurance comes with auto insurance. It’s the first coverage that will be used to pay your medical bills. There is a limit, so whichever medical bills get submitted first will get paid by PIP first until the funds run out. The at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay this back when the settlement is complete.

Workers’ Compensation

If your car accident happened in the scope of your job, you could qualify for workers’ compensation. There are some determining factors, but your lawyer can help you sort those out. For example, if you were headed out on your lunch break, it would not be in the scope of your employment. If your boss asked you to purchase new toner for the copier on your way back from lunch, and that’s when the accident occurred, it would be considered in the scope of your employment.

Health Insurance

If you have private health insurance, you can use that to pay for injuries post car accident. Keep in mind your health insurance provider will want to be reimbursed after the settlement, so that will come out of your check. When the check is written, it will typically be sent to your attorney who will then disperse the funds, including paying back your health insurance provider.

Medicaid

Medicaid is worth looking into if you don’t have private health insurance. Medicaid is a government program that offers medical benefits to those with lower incomes and who meet other certain criteria. When you apply for Medicaid, be sure to state that you were injured in a car accident so all legal measures can be exhausted.

Out of Pocket

If all of the above options don’t pan out, you may end up paying for your medical bills out of pocket. While this can put a financial burden on you for the time being, as soon as the settlement is final, you can be reimbursed for those costs.

Contacting Your Lawyer

After a car accident, you might have a hard time paying your medical bills. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible to help you through the process of finding ways to get them paid.

 

Source: Auto Accident Lawyer Indianapolis, IN, Ward & Ward Law Firm