Paying your insurance premiums every month is enough of an expense. Medical bills can be much costlier if you’re injured in an accident. If not insured, you’ll have to pay them out-of-pocket. But let’s assume you are insured; now, we’ll look at the answer to the question, “Will the insurance company send me a check for my medical bills?” and how medical bills get paid through an accident claim.
Do I Get the Check?
The insurance company typically won’t cut you a check for medical expenses. Your health insurance company should cover the costs of your medical care. And then, after your bodily injury liability claim is processed, the car insurance provider will reimburse the health insurance company. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance company will pay for the damages up to the limit of the policy’s liability coverage.
A car insurance company doesn’t usually pay medical bills directly. The problem here is your healthcare-related expenses aren’t always covered right away. An insurance company is often slow to process information, especially when someone is injured. The insurer might not know what to pay until you’ve been fully treated and have healed or reached maximum recovery.
How to Make Sure Your Medical Expenses Are Covered
Your health insurance is usually billed first for emergency care, doctor’s visits, prescriptions, surgery, etc. related to your car accident. You’ll most likely be required to pay a deductible and copays. The company will expect to be reimbursed later whether you have private health insurance or are insured through your employer, the marketplace, Medicare, or Medicaid.
When relying on insurance to cover expenses, make sure to know what the policy covers, up to what amount, and how much the at-fault driver is responsible for paying. Also, keep a file of every receipt from the care you receive. You can then total up the expenses so you know how much the insurer should pay. If you’re not insured, the at-fault driver’s car insurance company will reimburse you for any accident-related medical expenses.
Your healthcare provider should submit your bills to your insurance company. If not, you must submit the bills directly. Otherwise, you risk exceeding the time the insurer allows for submitting them and being required to pay the entire amount owed. Don’t wait for your car accident claim to settle; this can take months or years, and if unpaid bills are sent to collections, your credit will be negatively affected.
What About Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage?
In a no-fault state (which does not include California), PIP coverage will pay your medical bills no matter who is at fault for an accident. Medical payments (MedPay) coverage usually pays for smaller expenses. Once you’re reimbursed up to the maximum amount of the policy’s limits, you can reach out to the at-fault driver’s insurance company or, if they don’t have liability coverage, file an uninsured motorist coverage claim on your policy.
In an at-fault state like California, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability insurance will reimburse your or your health insurance provider. Your benefits may be needed if they’re uninsured or underinsured. With uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, remaining accident-related expenses are covered if necessary.
Conclusion
As to whether the insurance company will send you a check for medical bills, that depends. It’s possible if you don’t use your health insurance. Then the full balance of the settlement will be owed to you. If you use insurance, and your insurer paid at a discounted rate, the benefit of that discount will be passed forward. When it expects reimbursement at a discounted rate (such as if you’re in the military or disabled), you’ll owe the insurer less than the full amount of the claimed bills.
Contact Your Personal Injury Attorney
The interaction between health insurance and auto insurance companies can be confusing, as can the entire personal injury claim process. At The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani, we can answer all your questions and help ensure your insurance claims get paid. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers also work to maximize your settlement so you’re properly compensated for your losses. Call (888) 952-2952 for your free consultation today.