How to Pay Your Medical Bills While Waiting for Your Car Accident Settlement
In most cases, when you are in a car accident, your medical bills won’t just hang out and wait for you to receive your settlement. You will have a due date on those bills, and if you are late on a payment, it’s possible you could be in default and sent to collections. While it’s understandable you might have a hard time paying for your medical bills after being involved in something so unforeseen, it’s important you figure out a way to take care of them so you can remain financially secure. The following are some tips for getting those bills paid on time.
Workers’ Compensation Coverage
This only applies if you were driving your car during the course of employment, and if that is the case, workers’ compensation would be the first place you should turn to receive compensation for your medical bills. Workers’ comp is held by most employers across the nation so employees have a sense of security and safety while on the job. You’ll have to prove your accident occurred during the course of your employment, but a lawyer can help you do that.
Personal Injury Protection
PIP is a type of coverage that is included with your personal auto insurance policy. Every car that is on the road should have this type of coverage. It is basically intended to take care of those first few medical bills while you get back on your feet again. There’s a limit at which your insurance company will payout, typically around $3,000, so whichever bills are sent to the insurance company first are the bills that will be paid through PIP.
Medicaid Assistance
The Medicaid program is designed for certain low-income or disabled people to have health insurance. If you qualify, and if your PIP coverage has run out, Medicaid could be your next option to get those bills paid. Your insurance company will need to provide the Medicaid office with a PIP exhaust notice before any assistance will happen. It’s also important your caseworkers understand you are being treated for injuries sustained in a car accident.
Personal Health Insurance
If you choose to use your personal health insurance to cover the costs of your injuries, be sure you inform your provider that your injuries were the result of a car accident for which you are still in litigation. The insurance provider will more than likely put a lien on your settlement to get paid back before you even see any of the settlement yourself.
Contacting an Attorney for Guidance
Being injured in a car accident is difficult, but it can be more difficult waiting for financial assistance if your lawsuit takes a while. Contact a car accident attorney, like a car accident lawyer in Denver, CO from Richard J. Banta, P.C., to guide you through the process of getting your bills paid on time.