Medical Bills and Auto Accidents
“How do I pay my medical bills after an auto accident?”
This is probably the #1 concern of my clients. And it’s a terribly valid and immediate one. So what’s the answer?
Sadly, most people (particularly ones who’ve never had an auto accident claim, but even some who have had one or more) think that there is a separate billing mechanism for taking care of medical treatment costs incurred following an auto accident. There is a mass illusion that these bills will either be paid directly and immediately by the liability carrier (the car insurance of the bad guy) or that the bills will be held in abeyance until a settlement is obtained. Both of these assumptions are incorrect. You pay for medical bills related to an auto accident the same way you pay for medical bills incurred for any other reason. Everyone is responsible for their own medical care. Period. Our system, imperfect though it may be, makes us all carry this burden on our own. Of course, with the right claim, and maybe with a good attorney, you can hope to get reimbursed for your medical costs (as well as other things) at the conclusion of your claim. But until then, you’re on the hook. So you have to pay out of pocket, use your health insurance, or just ask them to hang tight. Some health care providers will be nice about collection attempts if you tell them the situation, but you can’t count on this. You’ll want to set up some sort of payment plan in the interim while you await the conclusion of your claim. The liability carrier isn’t paying jack up front. Now what they might want to do is what I call the drive-by settlement: they come by your house the day after the accident (when you’re conveniently hopped up on Oxy) and wave a shiny check for $500 in your face. But if you take it, you’re stuck, and that’s all you’ll ever get from them! And even on cases where you don’t settle immediately (which is wise!) and they know they’re in it for something bigger (if you’re lucky) they aren’t going to pay your bills as they are incurred. The main thing to take home from this is that liability insurance does not work like health insurance. It is a one-time, lump-sum, at the end, if you’re lucky sort of recovery. And that can be hard to stomach for many folks. What should you remember, if nothing else, from this post? USE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE! That’s what it’s there for! DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH waiting for liability settlements; they will come when/if they come. DON’T IGNORE COLLECTION ATTEMPTS! Tell your attorney if you have one, and if you don’t, ask them to let you do a minimal payment plan to see if you can bridge the gap while you wait to get your claim resolved. This area is one of the more complex and frustrating aspects to injury claims, and having an attorney to help walk you through it can be worth the price. Call one. Call me. 919-929-2992.