Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills

There are Multiple Forms of Insurance. That can cover the cost of medical care after an accident. Health Insurance, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay). Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills? You may ask. Who covers my injuries in a car accident?

If you have PIP or MedPay as part of your auto insurance coverage. You’ll typically use those first before going to your health insurance company.

Drivers without PIP coverage can still use health insurance to pay for injuries after a car accident. But there are some advantages to adding PIP or MedPay to your car insurance policy.

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If you’re injured in a car accident. Understanding your options for getting your medical care paid for can become a tricky proposition.

Especially if a number of different insurance policies are in play. Here’s what to know at the outset:

• Your health insurance will likely cover your car accident injuries. But if you have other car insurance-specific options (like MedPay or PIP coverage). Those might save you money and hassle.
• Your health insurer probably has a right to get back any money paid to treat your car accident injuries. If you end up getting money from the at-fault driver’s insurer, or from some other source.
• Exactly how much ultimate responsibility a particular party or insurance carrier has can depend on who was at fault for the car accident. And the types of car insurance coverage in place.

Let’s take a closer look at some key issues related to health insurance and car accident injuries.

Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

Yes, health insurance can help pay for medical costs associated with a car accident.

Depending on your state and coverages. Your auto insurance policy may also cover accident-related injury costs.

So your health care provider will typically request your health insurance and auto insurance information if you seek care for injuries related to a car accident.

If you have health insurance and you’re injured in a car accident. Your health insurer will usually pay for treatment related to your accident injuries. But there’s usually a catch or three:

• Depending on the details of your health insurance, there might be in-network or out-of-network distinctions when it comes to care providers. Or similar restrictions on what’s covered.
• Your health plan might also explicitly state that your health insurance is “secondary“. If you’re injured in a car accident and there’s other (“primary”) insurance. (i.e. your own car insurance coverage or the other driver’s) available to cover your injuries. When that’s the case, you would turn first to the available car insurance coverage. And if the cost to treat your car accident injuries exceeds the amount of that coverage. Your health insurance would kick in and pay for the remainder of your care.
• Certain kinds of treatment you receive in connection with your car accident injuries might not be covered under your health insurance. Including alternative forms of treatment.

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But the bottom line is that if you ever need to use your health insurance to pay for treatment of your car accident injuries (no other insurance is available, in other words) you usually can.

And just a quick note that while your health insurance will cover medical treatment for almost any kind of injury or illness.

No matter the cause (including car accidents). It probably goes without saying that it doesn’t work both ways.

Regardless of the details of your car insurance coverage. You can’t use that insurance to pay for health care that’s unrelated to a vehicle accident.

What If I’m Injured After an Accident But I Don’t Have Health Insurance?

Don’t delay getting necessary medical treatment after a car accident, even if you don’t have health insurance.

Depending on the law in your state. Hospitals and other care providers may be legally required to present certain options to uninsured patients.

Including interest-free payment plans and discounted charges for treatment. Depending on the specifics of the law.

For car accident injuries in particular. Some health care providers will treat the patient now and postpone getting paid until any car insurance claim or injury lawsuit is resolved.

This kind of arrangement is often called a “medical lien.” Learn more about health care provider claims on personal injury settlements.

How To Submit Medical Bills To Auto Insurance

If you have sustained an injury in a car accident and you have applicable auto insurance coverage, you should start a claim. But Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

You will work with the adjuster to ensure all necessary bills and records are forwarded to your auto insurer.

When you seek medical care related to your car accident. Give your health care provider your auto insurance information and your health insurance information.

The insurance adjuster for your auto accident claim will review the paperwork. And ask for more information if needed. They will fully or partially reimburse the appropriate party, or deny the claim.

How Does Auto Insurance Cover Car Accident Injury Bills?

Here’s how your auto insurance coverages might work to cover your injury costs. Depending on your state laws and which coverages you have:

• Medical payments coverage: MedPay can help pay for your and your passengers’ car accident medical expenses, regardless of fault.
• Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage: PIP can help pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses and lost wages resulting from a car accident, regardless of fault.
• Other at-fault party’s liability coverage: If the other party is at fault, their liability coverage can help pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses and your vehicle’s damages.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage: If the other party is at fault but doesn’t have enough liability coverage to cover your damages. UM/UIM can help pay for your and your passengers’ injuries and your vehicle’s damages.

If you suffer an injury in a car accident. Contact your insurer as soon as possible to start a claim and discuss how your auto insurance coverages can apply.

When Should I Use Auto Insurance vs. Health Insurance To Pay For Car Accident Injuries?

Your provider will typically ask for your health insurance information. And auto insurance information when you seek medical treatment for injuries related to a car accident.

It will ultimately depend on your particular coverages, the circumstances of your accident. Your state’s laws, and if you have private health insurance or Medicare or Medicaid.

Will I Need to Pay Anything Out of Pocket?

It depends on the details of your coverage. Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills?

But chances are you’ll need to pay a deductible and/or some kind of co-pay (or a series of deductibles or co-pays over the course of your care).

If you use your health insurance plan to pay for treatment of your car accident injuries.

This is a big reason why. If you’ve got car insurance coverage that will pay your medical bills quickly (and without a deductible).

Health insurance might not be your best option when it comes to paying for medical treatment for your car accident injuries.

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We’ll get into more detail on that in the following sections.

If you don’t have health insurance or car insurance. Don’t let that stop you from seeking necessary medical attention after a car accident.

As touched on above. Laws in your state may require health care providers to work with you on a payment plan. And you may be entitled to receive care at a reduced rate.

And if you contact a car accident attorney shortly after your crash. The firm might be able to put you in touch with health care providers who will agree to be paid out of any settlement you receive.

Who Pays First? Auto Insurance or Health Insurance?

Car insurance typically pays for treatment of car accident injuries until the available coverage limits are exhausted, and then your health insurance usually kicks in to pay for what’s left.

As we touched on above, the “primary” or “secondary” question might be answered by the fine print of the different policies in place.

If, for whatever reason, your health insurance coverage paid your medical bills first. The health insurer will turn around and make a claim against the car insurance company that insures the at-fault driver.

So, what kinds of car insurance might cover your car accident injuries? The two main options at the outset of a car accident claim are:

• Your own personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) car insurance coverage can be used to pay the medical bills that come in as your car accident injuries are being treated. This coverage typically pays out pretty quickly, and while PIP may require you to pay a deductible, MedPay coverage rarely does.
• The other driver’s liability car insurance (which applies if they’re found at fault for the accident) isn’t usually an option for paying your medical bills as they come in. This insurance will cover your injuries, but any claim or settlement acts as more of a reimbursement.

How Medical Bills Are Paid After a Car Accident

In most cases, car accident injury bills will follow a basic pattern of payment responsibility. Will my health insurance cover car accident injuries?

The first piece of the pie will involve any co-pays or deductibles in place on the insurance policy in question.

Depending on whether you use your health insurance policy (assuming you have health coverage) or available car insurance.

In the typical situation:

• You get injured in a car accident
• You get medical care for those injuries
• If you’re using health insurance, you follow the same protocol that you would if you were getting medical treatment for an illness or any other health issue. That means you will have to pay the usual deductible or co-pay under your health plan.
• If you’re using car insurance, you follow the insurance company’s claim submission process (often available online). Get tips on making a PIP or MedPay claim after a car accident.

Hospitals, ambulances and doctor’s offices may not require upfront payment from injured parties.

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Instead, they may provide necessary services and then work with the patient (you) and any involved insurance companies to determine who needs to pay what amount.

So, for example, if you’re taken from the accident scene to the ER via ambulance, don’t be surprised if a few weeks later you receive a hefty bill from the ambulance company (or your local city/county).

This bill (which could amount to thousands of dollars) will typically include a section asking whether you have health insurance.

If you do have health coverage, you’ll be asked to provide policy/plan details in space provided and mail the bill back (without paying it).

The ambulance company (or city/county) will then deal with your health plan to get payment.

How To Deal With Insurance Company Delays or Claim Denials

If a key issue like fault for the car accident (liability) is being disputed by the other driver’s insurance company. It might be a while before you receive a fair settlement.

In that situation (and really any time you don’t have your own Medpay or PIP coverage). You’ll likely use your own health insurance coverage to pay for treatment for your car accident injuries.

The same goes for situations in which the car insurance company (your own or the other driver’s) is trying to deny your claim. Learn more about what to do if your car insurance claim is denied. Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills?

Switching to Medical Insurance Coverage

Once you have exhausted all other forms of payment, your health insurance will be responsible for the treatment related to your car accident injuries.

Your particular policy will determine what is covered and what isn’t.

You will likely still have to pay:

• Your deductible amount under their health insurance policy.
• Any co-payments required of you under your health insurance policy.
• Charges not typically covered by the policy.

Auto Insurance Policies Pay First

When a car accident occurs. The driver’s auto insurance takes priority for claims. Since all drivers are required to have basic liability car insurance coverage.

While liability coverage can vary significantly between states. Most medical bills related to car accidents are paid up to the at-fault driver’s policy limits.

Does health insurance cover car accident bills? Liability insurance has to pay out first.

Does Health Insurance Cover Auto Accidents?

First, it’s important to note that even if another driver caused the collision. Because medical services are provided to you after an auto collision, the bills are your legal responsibility.

This is why it’s so vital that you obtain full compensation for your claim. Until you obtain the compensation you deserve, you will be responsible for paying your medical bills.

The Payment Process

After an ambulance or hospital provides necessary health services. They will work with you and your insurance companies to figure out who is responsible for paying which amount.

So a few weeks after the collision, you may receive a large bill from the hospital.

You should provide the hospital with your insurance policy information so that it can contact your insurance carriers to secure payment.

Private health insurance policies typically have copays and deductibles that must be met before coverage kicks in.

If you have Medicaid, however, you will not have to pay deductibles or copays for your care.

Your insurance carrier’s degree of responsibility for your auto accident injury care will depend on several factors.

Including your copays and deductibles, whether you or the other driver was at fault, and the availability and type of automobile insurance coverage.

While most health insurance policies will pay for a portion of the medical expenses following a car accident. You may wish to explore using auto liability coverage or medical payments coverage instead.

Types of Coverage

Health Insurance Coverage

Does health insurance cover auto accidents?

Yes. However, if you are not at fault for the collision, your insurance company will likely work to get the liable party’s policy to absorb the costs of your care.

Until other available types of insurance have been exhausted, your health insurance policy will generally not be responsible for paying for your medical expenses.

Even when it does pay, you will typically be responsible for your deductibles, copayments, and any charges that your policy does not typically cover.

You may be able to recover your out-of-pocket expenses by including them in your negotiated settlement agreement.

Auto Liability Coverage

Depending on the type of auto insurance you have, your auto insurance policy may or may not cover the initial expenses for treating your accident injuries.

For example, if you are at fault for the accident and only have liability coverage, your policy will likely not cover your injuries.

If the other driver is at fault, however, his or her insurance policy should be responsible for paying your medical expenses up to the bodily injury policy limits.

Keep in mind that these limits can vary greatly depending on the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.

What If Liability Is In Dispute?

Until the claim is resolved, the negligent driver’s auto insurance company will likely refuse to pay your medical bills for the following reasons:

• The insurance carrier wants to avoid paying for your claim if possible.
• The insurance carrier may not agree with the nature and extent of your medical treatment.
• The insurance carrier wants to receive the benefit of your health insurance’s negotiated rates for your medical treatment.
• The insurance carrier hopes that the insured was not at fault or that you share fault.

When the claim is resolved, the payments will be resolved as well.

So if you were injured due to another driver’s negligence, your health insurance company will pay for your claims initially.

Then, after the other party has been found legally at fault, your health insurance company will subrogate your claim to recover the amounts that it paid.

It will also file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills? Read More