Protecting Yourself and Your Credit From Unpaid Medical Bills
When you’ve been injured due to someone else’s carelessness, the last thing you want to worry about is paying your bills. Medical expenses add up quickly, especially if you stay in a hospital. Unfortunately, just because the injury wasn’t your fault doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for paying your bills on time. A lawsuit or personal injury claim can take months or years to get paid out, while your doctors want their fees paid promptly. Here are some options that can help in this scenario.
Work With an Attorney
If you are going through a car insurance claim or a personal lawsuit, a lawyer may be able to prevent collection activities against you while you wait for your payout. One option is for your attorney to provide your medical providers with a Letter of Protection. The letter serves as official notification that your case is going through litigation and that the attorney has set aside their fee to be paid when the case closes. If you don’t win your case, your attorney may still be able to negotiate with your medical insurance, car insurance and doctors to decrease the amount you owe out of pocket.
Add Medical Coverage to Your Auto Insurance
If you are interested in preventing this type of situation, you can add additional coverage to your car insurance. This optional medical coverage is beneficial because health insurance still requires deductibles and copays, and not all drivers carry enough liability insurance to pay your total expenses. Med coverage pays out at a flat rate regardless of who caused the accident, so the money is sent directly to you without having to wait for the other driver’s insurance or a determination of fault. This extra money makes it possible to pay some of your impending debt.
Purchase Private Accident Coverage
In addition to car insurance, you can also purchase extra coverage through a health care provider. These plans are available individually or through your employer and work similarly to the car insurance medical coverage. This is a plan that pays you directly in the event of a qualifying accident or injury, so you can use that cash to pay your bills on time.
When you have medical bills resulting from an accident, it’s your responsibility to ensure they get paid regardless of who is at fault. If you currently have past due bills and don’t have additional medical payment insurance coverage, contact a personal injury attorney today to discuss what options are available to you.
If you need help with your personal injury case contact a car accident lawyer at Hall-Justice Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation during which we can discuss the facts of your case.
