Q: If I have been in a car crash, should I still pay my medical bills?

A:

Yes.  You are responsible for making sure your medical bills are paid on time and non-payment of medical bills will hurt your credit rating.  If the car crash is not your fault, in many cases there are three different sources of insurance to reimburse you for your medical bills: 1) your own health insurance policy; 2) your own auto insurance policy; and 3) the at-fault party’s auto insurance policy.  If premiums were paid for each of these types of coverage and they apply to your case, then you should submit your bills to all three starting with health insurance. 

If you have health insurance, we suggest that all of your health care providers submit their charges to your health insurance company.  However, you will still owe co-pays, deductibles, and unpaid amounts to the medical care providers for the services they rendered.  Those providers may refer you to a collection agency if you do not communicate with their offices or pay outstanding bills in a timely manner.  In the event your health insurance company denies a claim submitted by a healthcare provider, you must also file a timely appeal, usually by following the instructions printed on the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) form you were sent detailing why the claim was denied.

If you do not have health insurance or you do not have the means to pay anything on your medical bills—even small co-payments—you or your lawyer may try to negotiate an “assignment of benefits” with your doctor.  “Assignment of benefits” means that any amounts owed to a doctor or medical facility must be paid directly from your settlement proceeds or money you receive in a judgment.  In exchange, the doctor or medical facility agrees to wait until the resolution of your claim to be paid and not send you to collections.  Whether or not a health care provider agrees to this arrangement is his or her choice and they may not accept assignments.


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©2010 Barbara S. Williams, P.C., All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
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