Getting into a car accident can be scary, especially if you're injured.
But unfortunately, car accidents and truck accidents are never completely avoidable.
If you do get injured, you will not only have to focus on your physical recovery, but you will also have to worry about insurance, filing claims, and how you're going to pay your medical bills.
Many people don't know which insurance to use after a car accident, and many assume that they can't use their health insurance to pay for their medical costs.
Getting medical treatment and getting it paid for can be especially tricky after a car accident.
Whether or not your health insurance will cover your auto accident bills and exactly how much responsibility a particular party or insurance carrier has depends on several factors.
These factors include co-pays, who was at fault for the accident, and the types of insurance coverage in place.
Ultimately, many health insurance policies will cover auto accident injuries, at least to an extent. Still, your health insurance typically won't be your first option.
And they might not be on the hook at all.
In the article below, we will take a closer look at if you can use your health insurance provider after receiving car accident injuries.
Table of Contents
- You've Been Involved In A Car Accident
- You're Responsible For The Medical Bills
- Car Accident Injury Bills
- Your Car Insurance Company Always Comes First
- When Health Insurance Kicks In
- The First Thing You Need To Do Is Seek Medical Care
- Seek Chiropractic Care For Your Injuries
- Contact The Arrowhead Clinic
You've Been Involved In A Car Accident
First, let's paint a picture.
You were just involved in a car accident. Someone ran a red light and hit your car as you were making a left turn.
You're knocked unconscious, suffering a traumatic brain injury. You also have a broken arm.
You spend a few days in the hospital, and it takes weeks in a cast as well as physical therapy to get your arm back to full strength.
Luckily you don't have any lasting effects from the injury. Still, once you're discharged from the hospital and begin physical therapy, the hospital bills start rolling in.
And the medical expenses are astronomical; you can't believe how much you've been charged.
Now, do you turn to your auto insurance coverage or see if your health insurer will cover your car accident injuries?
What insurance do you use to pay for medical treatment?
Do you have to pay for your medical expenses since the other driver was negligent, or can you just wait for their car insurance policy to cover it?
Or will their health insurance cover everything?
You are left with many questions with no answers.
Related post: What Causes Back Pain After A Car Accident?
You're Responsible For The Medical Bills
The first thing you need to realize is that no matter the circumstances surrounding your car accident, the bills are your responsibility.
The medical providers gave a service to you, so the burden of paying them falls on you.
And just because you might be in the middle of a car accident claim doesn't mean your doctors will want to wait to get paid for their services.
Even if the crash wasn't your fault, the at-fault parties' insurance company would not immediately pay for your bills.
They aren't going to make payments before there's an auto accident injury settlement in your favor because they don't have to give you anything until their client is found guilty.
So does your health insurance company take care of the bills? If not, why not?
Car Accident Injury Bills
For the most part, medical bills after car accident injuries will follow a pattern of payment responsibility.
The first thing you have to take care of is the co-pays or deductibles on your policies.
In most situations, after you're involved in a car accident, you'll receive treatment and follow the same protocol you would typically follow if you were getting treatment for any other reason.
So, you have to pay the standard deductible or co-pay that is included in your health insurance policy.
Fortunately, ambulance fees and some doctors won't always require you to make payments upfront.
Instead, they will provide the necessary services and then work with you and the involved insurance companies to determine who pays what.
So if you're transported directly from the scene of the accident to the emergency room, you will likely receive a pretty hefty bill from the ambulance company or your local city or county for their services.
Most people are shocked to find out that this bill can be several thousands of dollars.
But the bill will include a section asking if you have medical insurance. If you do, you will have to fill in your insurance information and then mail the bill back without payment.
After that, the ambulance company or your local government will work with your health insurance to take care of the bill.
Your Automobile Insurance Company Always Comes First
Although your health insurance plan can come into play, auto insurance policies will always come first when it comes to paying for your car accident injuries.
Almost every state requires its residents to have basic liability insurance coverage included with their car insurance.
Your auto insurance coverage can vary greatly, but medical bills should be covered up to the at-fault driver's policy limits.
If your health insurance coverage did take care of your bills first, they would make an auto insurance claim against the accident insurance company of the person responsible for the accident.
When Health Insurance Kicks In
Once every other payment form is exhausted, your health insurance company will typically have financial responsibility for treatment related to your car accident.
What is covered and what isn't will depend on your health insurance carrier and the policy you have in place.
You will still likely have out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles and co-pays. You may also have to cover any charges that aren't explicitly covered by your policy.
The First Thing You Need To Do Is Seek Medical Care
Your health is the most important thing, and before you have to worry about an auto insurance company, a medical insurance company, or your health coverage, you first need to receive treatment if you've been injured.
Accident victims with severe injuries should go to the emergency room right away.
Even if you feel like you haven't been injured after the accident, it is still a good idea to seek the help of experienced healthcare providers to determine if you have any hidden injuries.
There are several soft tissue injuries, like whiplash, that can take several hours or even days to show symptoms.
That's why it's good to receive medical care right away; it keeps minor injuries that might not be obvious from turning into chronic issues.
And, if you wait too long to seek medical care and you do have injuries, they might not be covered in an injury claim because you waited too long to receive treatment.
Seek Chiropractic Care For Your Injuries
Chiropractic care is an excellent option for car many car accident injuries, especially injuries that take a while to develop.
Your chiropractor will complete a full physical exam and go over your medical history to diagnose any injuries you may have sustained.
They will then develop a treatment plan for the injured person that involves chiropractic manipulations to restore your health.
And they do it all without using addictive painkillers or invasive surgeries.
Contact The Arrowhead Clinic Today
If you don't have a chiropractor after your auto accident, you should visit the chiropractors at the Arrowhead Clinic.
We have over 40 years of experience helping hundreds of thousands of car accident victims.
If you're injured due to another driver's negligence, we can refer you to an experienced accident injury attorney who can provide you with legal options regarding your medical payments as well as help you file a personal injury claim for fair compensation.
Your personal injury attorney will sign a medical lien of protection with our healthcare providers, which will allow you to receive the treatment you need without paying upfront for any accumulated medical expenses.
Having an accident injury lawyer to help you obtain compensation for accident injury expenses as well as provide you with personal injury protection will allow you peace of mind during this difficult time.
For auto accident victims who need treatment for injuries and legal representation, click below to schedule a free consultation with Arrowhead Clinic today.
