If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may be facing a lot of uncertainty and stress, especially when it comes to paying for your medical treatment. One question that often arises is “Should I use my own health insurance for medical bills after a car accident?” The short answer is yes, you should always use your health insurance after an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
It’s understandable to have concerns about using your personal health insurance when someone else caused your car accident injuries. You might worry that it’s not fair or could affect your premiums. However, using your health insurance coverage is the smartest way to ensure you get the medical care you need without delay. Your health should be the top priority, and your insurance is there to help cover your treatment costs. Billing your health insurance also documents your injuries and treatment. This may be crucial evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Rest assured, if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, your personal injury attorney will fight to recover all your medical expenses from the at-fault party’s insurance.
Who gets the check to pay medical bills after a car insurance claim?
People who have been injured through no fault of their own are often confused about who gets the insurance check for medical expenses. Why?
- Emergency room personnel or doctors treating injured people may ask for auto insurance information if they know their patient was injured in an automobile accident.
- Injured people don’t think it’s fair that their health insurance should pay for harm caused by someone else.
Regardless of the source of the confusion, the answer is clear. Always use your health insurance any time you receive accident-related medical treatment.
Why use your health insurance to pay accident-related medical bills?
Insurance companies do not pay car accident medical bills directly to the hospital or doctors—even when their insured driver is found to be responsible.
Car insurance companies pay only you, as the claimant, when and if there is a settlement.
Sometimes, this takes months—or even years. During this time, unpaid bills can go into collections, which may negatively affect your credit.
You may be responsible for paying the medical provider the entire amount owed if your claim is ultimately denied or settlement is delayed beyond the time your health insurance company allows for submitting bills.
Promptly submitting your bills to your health insurance company avoids this problem entirely.
Using health insurance to pay your medical bills maximizes the recovery you receive from the car insurance company after your claim is settled.
The amount you receive from the car insurance company will include the full amount of any accident-related bill you incur.
Even though you recover the full amount of the bill, health insurance companies receive huge discounts from medical providers. If you don’t use your health insurance, the full balance will be owed by you at the time of your settlement.
If your health insurance company has already paid their discounted rate, the benefit of that discount is passed along to you.
Even if your health insurance is entitled to be reimbursed from the proceeds of your settlement because you are in the military, disabled, or your plan requires “subrogation,” you still get the discounted rate.
When the health insurance company is reimbursed from your settlement, the amount paid to them is significantly less than the full amount of the medical bills. You have to reimburse your health insurance company for only a fraction of the full amount of the claimed bills.
For most Americans, health insurance can be a costly monthly expenditure. When you pay for the benefits of health coverage, you should receive the benefits of having that insurance whenever you require medical care.
If you or someone you know is receiving accident-related medical treatment, make sure that your medical provider is promptly submitting all their bills to the health insurance company. It will always work out better in the end.
Contact Allen & Allen to seek reimbursement for auto accident-related medical bills
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, slip and fall incident, or any other type of accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Allen & Allen is here to help. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and fight to recover the compensation you deserve.
When you work with Allen & Allen, you can focus on your recovery while we handle the details. Our team has a proven track record of success in personal injury cases, and we’re ready to put our knowledge and resources to work for you. We’ll discuss your case, answer your questions, and advise you on the best path forward. Remember, you pay no fees unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by reaching out for help.
Don’t wait to get the legal representation you need. Call Allen & Allen today for a free consultation at 866-388-1307 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
