After a car accident, the question of who pays your medical bills can create real financial stress. You may need to wait months or even years for an insurance claim or lawsuit to resolve, while your medical expenses keep piling up. Fortunately, there are avenues available to help pay your bills before your car accident case settles. A McAllen car accident lawyer can help you sort through these options and help you secure the resources you need to move forward.
Options for Managing Medical Expenses During Your Claim
When you are injured, you shouldn’t have to delay necessary treatment because you are worried about how you’ll pay for it. Several options exist to help cover your medical expenses while your case is pending.
Here are some common ways to manage your medical bills during this time:
- Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage: If you carry MedPay as part of your auto insurance policy, this coverage can pay for your medical expenses regardless of who was at fault in the accident. MedPay typically covers expenses like hospital bills, surgery costs, and rehabilitation services up to your policy limits.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage: PIP is similar to MedPay but often provides broader coverage, including lost wages and other accident-related expenses. While PIP isn’t required in Texas, if you have this optional coverage, it can help bridge the gap between your accident and your settlement.
- Health Insurance: Your regular health insurance policy will typically cover accident-related injuries just as it would any other medical condition. You will be responsible for your usual copays, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts.
- Medical Liens and Letters of Protection: These arrangements allow you to receive medical treatment now with the agreement that providers will be paid from your settlement proceeds later. We will discuss these options in more detail below.
How Medical Liens and Letters of Protection Work
Medical liens and letters of protection function as agreements between you, your attorney, and your healthcare providers. With a medical lien, the provider files a formal legal claim against your future settlement. This lien ensures they have a secured interest in receiving payment once your case resolves. The healthcare provider agrees to defer billing you directly in exchange for this guarantee.
Letters of protection operate similarly but are less formal. Your attorney drafts a letter explaining that you’ve been injured in an accident and are pursuing a claim. The letter promises that the provider will be paid from your settlement proceeds and outlines the terms of this arrangement. Many doctors, specialists, and medical facilities accept letters of protection because they understand the nature of personal injury cases and trust that payment will come. These arrangements give you access to quality medical care without the immediate financial burden.
Speak to an Attorney About Managing Your Accident-Related Medical Bills
Navigating medical bills after a car accident can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. A Texas car accident attorney can help you understand your payment options and properly account for all of your medical expenses in your settlement. More importantly, your personal injury attorney in McAllen will work to maximize your compensation so that when your case does settle, you are not left with out-of-pocket costs that should have been covered. Contact a Texas car accident attorney today for a consultation and learn how they will fight for you.
