How Do I Pay for my Medical Treatment While I Wait for my Personal Injury Case to Settle?
Car accident injuries sometimes lead to costly medical bills. How do you pay for medical treatment when you are injured and cannot work?
Medical providers will want payment for the services they are providing to treat your injuries. How do you pay for medical treatment while you are waiting for your personal injury claim to settle?
Many people do not have the money to pay for medical expenses out of pocket. Fortunately, you may have some options for delaying payment to medical providers.
The car accident attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal fight every day to obtain the maximum compensation possible for clients who have been injured in car accidents and have costly medical bills. You pay nothing to work with our attorneys unless we win your case, so there is no risk to you to seek our help after a car accident.
Filing a Claim Through Your Insurance if the Car Accident Occurred in Missouri
Missouri is an at-fault state, which means that injured drivers can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or their own. In addition, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is liable for any financial harm to you. You may have additional coverages like Med-Pay available under your own car insurance policy, so it is important to set up a claim with your insurance company as well.
Medical Payment Coverage (Med-Pay)
The most common way to get your medical bills paid after a Missouri car accident is by filing a claim through your Medical Payment Coverage (Med-Pay) under your auto insurance policy. Med-Pay is an optional car insurance coverage that you can add to your existing policy. It pays for your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. The car accident attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal can help you navigate the complexities of filing Med-Pay claims so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Filing a Claim Through Your Insurance if the Car Accident Occurred in Kansas
Kansas is a no-fault state, which means regardless of who caused the car accident, any injured person or persons must file a claim through his or her own insurance before filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability policy.
Kansas Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
The most common way to get your medical bills paid after a Kansas car accident is by filing a claim through your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage under your own auto insurance policy. Unlike Missouri, Kansas drivers are legally required to purchase a minimum of $4,500 per person in PIP coverage, though you can carry more coverage than the minimum amount. This minimum will cover your medical expenses up to $4,500 if you are injured in a car accident. You can use PIP coverage no matter who is at fault for the accident.
Using Your Health Insurance
In Kansas, you are required to exhaust your PIP benefits before a private or public insurer, like Medicare or Medicaid, will cover your medical bills. Once your PIP benefits are exhausted, your health insurance should begin covering your medical costs, if you have it; however, you will be responsible for out-of-pocket costs not covered by your insurance policy.
In Missouri, it is not a requirement to use or exhaust your Med-Pay benefits (if you have them) before your private or public health insurance will cover your medical costs. Again, you will be responsible for paying for medical expenses not covered by your insurance policy.
It is also important to note that the insurance company will likely claim a portion of any settlement you receive to cover what it paid for your treatment. An experienced personal injury attorney can negotiate a reduced payment, so you can keep more of the settlement at the end of your case.
Do not work alone with the insurance company. After a car accident, your medical bills can pile up quickly. The process for how medical expenses get paid can be extremely confusing for anyone. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the insurance process so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
Negotiating a Payment Plan
If you have no other means to fully pay your medical bills, hospitals are usually willing to negotiate a payment plan. Sometimes hospitals are willing to accept smaller monthly payments.
If you need to make small payments, make sure you can afford the payments and can make them on time. If you miss a payment, the hospital may request the full amount of the bill immediately. If you cannot pay it, they may send it to a debt collector, which hurts your credit.
In some cases, your personal attorney may be able to send the hospital or medical provider a letter asking them to put the bill or collection process on hold until you receive a settlement. This saves you from having to pay out of pocket.
Call an Experienced Attorney at Contigo Centro Legal
The car accident attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal are experienced at handling car accident claims and fighting insurance companies to ensure our clients receive the maximum compensation possible for their injuries. Do not try to handle your car accident claim on your own. Protect your rights and seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.
The attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal work on a contingency basis, which means we do not charge by the hour, and we do not charge any upfront fees. You only pay us if we win your case and are successful recovering compensation on your behalf. There is no risk to you to work with us. Contact us today at 816-800-8000 or contigocentrolegal.com.