Originally Published: December 8, 2016
The Short Answer
If you’re injured in an accident in Indiana, you’re generally responsible for your medical bills as you receive treatment, even if someone else caused the accident. Depending on your situation, medical payment coverage, health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid may help pay those costs. If another party is at fault, you can seek compensation for your accident-related medical expenses, including future treatment, as part of your personal injury case.
Key Takeaways
- You’re usually responsible for paying medical bills while your case is pending, even if the other driver caused the accident.
- Medical payment coverage (MedPay), health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid may help cover treatment costs.
- Your attorney may be able to request deferred payment from medical providers if you don’t have insurance or cannot afford your bills.
- If you recover compensation, you may need to reimburse your health insurer, Medicare, or Medicaid for accident-related bills they paid.
- Waiting until you understand your long-term medical needs can help ensure your settlement accounts for both current and future medical expenses.
Table of Contents
Who Pays Medical Bills Before Your Case Is Settled?
Many people assume the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay their medical bills right away after an accident. In reality, that usually isn’t how the process works. Medical providers still expect payment while your case is pending, which means you’ll often need to rely on your own insurance or other payment options until your car accident case is resolved. Understanding how this process works can help you avoid surprises and focus on your recovery.
When you are hurt in an accident, you suffer more than just physical injuries. You suffer emotional stress, mental anguish, and financial damages. For many people, dealing with medical bills after being hurt in an accident is extremely stressful. They wonder, “How am I supposed to pay medical bills when I am out of work because of the accident?” Our car accident attorneys hear this question many times during our free consultations. Below is information you may find helpful if you are asking yourself this same question.
Medical Payment Insurance
If you are hurt in an accident, the other driver is not required to pay your medical bills as you incur them, even if the driver caused the crash. You are responsible for the payment of your medical bills until your car accident claim is settled. If you have medical payment insurance under your automobile insurance policy, your insurance company will pay your medical bills as you incur them up to your policy limit. Your first step is to check your car insurance policy for medical payment coverage.
Health Insurance
If you do not have medical payment insurance, your health insurance company should pay your medical bills from the accident. Medicaid and Medicare may also pay the bills while you are being treated for injuries from the accident. However, once your car accident claim is settled, you must reimburse your health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare out of your settlement proceeds for any bills they paid related to the car accident. This is referred to as a subrogation claim.
Deferred Payment
In some cases, if you do not have insurance coverage to pay your medical bills and you have no other way to pay the bills, your attorney can write a letter to your medical providers asking for a deferment. Your attorney will explain that the injuries are related to a car accident, and you are pursuing a claim against the other driver. The letter states that the medical bills will be paid from the settlement proceeds once the case is settled.
Medical Bills In A Car Accident Case
If the other driver is responsible for the crash, you are entitled to recover compensation for all medical expenses related to the accident. In some cases, your physician may state you will require future medical treatments. An amount for future medical expenses is included in the settlement demand if your injuries require ongoing medical treatment.
It is important we wait to settle your case until we know if you will have future medical costs. If we settle the claim too quickly, you may have to bear the cost of any future medical bills. While it may be stressful to deal with medical bills after you have been hurt in an accident, it is better to wait until you have fully recovered before we settle your case to ensure you receive the maximum compensation allowable by law.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney For More Information
If you have been hurt in an accident, we are here to help. Our team at the Ken Nunn Law Office can help with your case no matter where you are in Indiana. We can meet with you in one of our offices in Indianapolis or Bloomington, or we can meet with you over the phone or virtually. Contact us today for your free consultation. There’s no obligation and no fees unless we win.
