A car accident can do a number on your financial life. Depending on the severity of the crash, you could have mountains of bills that seem to just keep coming. A large portion of these bills will likely be for medical expenses, which may include the initial emergency room bill, X Rays, MRIs, medications, surgical procedures, rehabilitation, and more. With all of these bills, many victims wonder how they will ever pay all of them.
In this article, we'll discuss a few ways you may be able to pay your medical bills following a car accident. If you've found yourself in these unfortunate circumstances, call or text our car accident lawyers today to find out what legal options may be available to you to help you financially, physically, and emotionally recover. You can reach us by text or call in Arizona at 602-345-1818 or in New Mexico at 602-345-1818. You may also request a free initial consultation by filling out our convenient and confidential online form here.
Who's Responsible for Your Medical Bills?
After a car accident in Arizona or New Mexico, it is the responsibility of the at-fault party to pay for the damages and losses associated with the car accident. However, accident settlements take time, and you need medical treatment now. While your accident claim is being investigated and negotiated by your car accident lawyer, you should be focused on recovery. Some payment options that you may have until your case is settled are:
- Using your own health insurance
- Getting a medical lien
- Using your health insurance + a medical lien
- Using MedPay insurance via your car insurance policy
Let's discuss these ways to pay for medical treatment before your accident case is settled.
If You Have Health Insurance, Use It
It won't hurt your settlement to use your own health insurance to pay for your medical bills. Many clients worry that using their own health insurance will hurt their ultimate accident settlement, but this isn't the case. In fact, it is a good idea to go ahead and get your medical care going by using your insurance. Getting immediate and consistent medical care and treatment will actually strengthen your case and ultimate accident settlement as well as facilitate your physical recovery.
Options for People Without Insurance: A Medical Lien
Unfortunately, not everyone has health insurance. In these cases, other options may exist. One such option is a medical lien. A medical lien will ensure the doctor or medical care provider that they will get paid once the accident claim is settled. This could be an alternative way to get the treatment you need following an accident.
A Medical Lien and Health Insurance Could Both Be Used
After an accident, medical expenses can add up very quickly. As such, you may need extra help paying for your care while your injury settlement is in progress. If this is the case, you may be able to use your health insurance and get a medical lien, too. For instance, if your health insurance doesn't cover a specific procedure, instead of having to pay out of pocket, you may be able to use a medical lien instead.
Use Your MedPay Auto Insurance to Pay for Your Medical Treatment
In some cases, you may be able to use Medical Payment coverage to pay for some of your medical costs. This type of coverage is sometimes referred to as “MedPay.” This coverage is provided by your auto insurance policy. In Arizona and New Mexico, MedPay is not required. However, it's good coverage to have, and it typically only costs a few extra dollars a month to include in your car insurance coverage. MedPay can help you cover medical expenses, deductibles, and copays.
It's Important to Get Medical Treatment Immediately
Seeing a medical professional directly following an auto accident is a good idea for a few reasons. It could save your life or help you avoid life-changing complications from an untreated injury. Immediate medical attention will help you identify any serious internal trauma that can be present even if you don't feel it at the moment. Additionally, going to a doctor after an accident, documents any injury that the accident may have caused. This will go a long way in providing the insurance company with the documentation they need during the claims process and settlement conversations. By refusing to see a doctor, you could be jeopardizing a lot:
- Your Health - you may be putting your health at risk by not seeing a doctor if you develop complications from your untreated injuries
- Your Insurance Claim - you may be denied if you have no evidence of your injuries or no evidence that you are taking measures to recover
- Your Entire Settlement - With no evidence, you may not be able to fight a claim denial. If you have no evidence of injuries and treatment, the best-case scenario is that you get a settlement that is entirely too low. Minimal evidence equals the minimum settlement if any settlement at all.
Read more here about the importance of consistently seeing a doctor after your car accident.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Us Today
Our car accident lawyers are waiting to hear from you. Don't delay in getting the compensation you deserve and need to get your life back on track. Call or text us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today. You can reach us at 602-345-1818 if you're in Arizona or 602-345-1818 if you're in New Mexico. Alternatively, you may fill out our online form here.
The information on our blog and website is for general informational purposes only, and it is not intended to serve as legal advice. For legal advice about your unique situation, call or text our car accident lawyers today.
We are located in Arizona and New Mexico. We serve clients in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Maricopa, and the entire state of Arizona. We also serve clients in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Roswell, Farmington, Los Alamos, Las Cruces, and the entire state of New Mexico.