Were you injured in a car accident, but have no health insurance?
Who pays the medical bills?
We often receive calls from auto accident victims who fear seeking medical treatment because they do not have health insurance. Even car accidents with minimal damage can result in life-altering injuries. A rear-end collision with only minor rear bumper damage can cause severe pain that plagues the accident victim’s days and nights. Medical treatment for such injuries is not a luxury reserved only for those with health insurance; it is a necessity for all auto accident injury victims to best rehabilitate them to his or her pre-accident condition.
If you were injured in an auto accident, you likely have options to receive medical treatment that does not require health insurance.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (PIP) BENEFITS
In Florida, all drivers are required to possess personal injury protection coverage – this is coverage held under your own automobile insurance policy, so you have this protection even if the at-fault driver is uninsured. It is critical that you seek medical attention within fourteen (14) days of the car accident to preserve your PIP benefits.
When you receive medical treatment following a car accident, your medical provider bills your auto insurance company, and your PIP benefits will cover up to $10,000.00 of your medical bills. Also to note: PIP benefits do not have to be paid back – even if you receive a settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
You might be asking yourself: If I am taken to the hospital, EMS transport and hospital bills can quickly add up to more than $10,000.00, so who pays after my PIP is exhausted?
It is in your best interest to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Sarasota County to review all of your available benefits and to thoroughly explain your available options. At the Casella Law Group, our attorneys are available 24/7 to explain your options following an auto accident.
When your PIP benefits are exhausted, there are ways to continue treatment that will not require up-front payment:
MEDPAY
If you have Medpay coverage in your auto policy, then your own auto insurance will continue to cover your medical bills up to the Medpay coverage amount. It is important to understand that Medpay, unlike PIP benefits, will have to be paid back when you settle with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance. Another reason to contact an experienced personal injury attorney is so you can be made fully aware of all benefits available to you under your auto policy.
LETTER OF PROTECTION
A letter of protection (LOP) is a contractual agreement between the medical provider, the patient, and the patient’s attorney that provides the treatment provider with assurance that his or her balance will be paid when the personal injury claim is settled. The medical provider treats the patient, submits the billing to the patient’s personal injury attorney and, when the claim is settled, the attorney pays the provider’s balance prior to issuing a net settlement check to his or her client. Not all medical providers will accept a letter of protection; however, an experienced personal injury attorney will fully explain the details and obligations under a letter of protection and may assist you in finding a medical provider who can treat your injuries under an LOP.
No one plans to be involved in a car crash, but they happen-- way too often. If you are injured in an automobile accident, there is an obligation to make you whole. If you do not have health insurance, there are still options available to get you the treatment you require.
Contact the Casella Law Group to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who can explain your rights and the benefits you may have available.