Auto accidents can cause serious injuries that require extensive medical care and, as a result, expensive medical bills. Injuries can create a significant financial burden for those injured, leading to stress and anxiety during an already difficult time.

Our Los Angeles car accident attorneys understand you may have many questions about who pays your medical bills after a car accident. Can you bill health insurance for auto accident injuries? Can you pursue compensation from the other driver or their auto insurance company?

Below, we answer some common questions about medical bills after a car accident and explain the role of health insurance after a serious accident.

Can You Bill Health Insurance for Auto Accident Injuries in California?

If you are involved in a car accident, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is critical for a couple of reasons. Even if you do not feel any immediate pain, some injuries, such as whiplash, head injuries, or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms until hours, days, or even weeks after the accident.Blue car with a badly damaged front end parked beside the sidewalk

Why is it important to seek medical attention right away? First and foremost, your health is a priority. An early medical evaluation can ensure you discover any dormant car accident injuries that may worsen if left untreated. Additionally, if you have visible injuries or feel pain, a medical evaluation is necessary for your path to recovery. You want to start a medical treatment plan and avoid further health complications.

Additionally, seeking medical attention right after an accident is critical to protecting your potential auto accident claim. As a result of a medical evaluation, you get official documentation about your injuries. This documentation may explain the severity and extent of your injuries and recommended treatment plan. More importantly, medical records serve as essential evidence for your claim because they can show that your injuries were a direct cause of the accident.

Car insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They would provide a long list of questions after your accident, as they do not want to pay out accident claims. You do not want to give the other driver’s auto insurance company a reason to minimize or deny your claim. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, the insurance company may claim you are inventing injuries or something else caused your injuries. Because of this possibility, it is important to act quickly.

Who Is Responsible for Paying My Medical Bills?

As personal injury lawyers, one of the most common questions we get is, “Who is responsible for paying my medical bills?” Under California law, if someone else’s negligence resulted in your damages, you have the right to pursue financial compensation from them. However, filing and resolving a car accident claim takes time, especially if the case has to be litigated.

Regardless of who pays for your car accident injuries at the end of a personal injury case, someone has to cover them upfront because you need medical treatment now. That person is you. You are responsible for paying your medical bills because you are the person being treated for injuries.

We understand that paying out-of-pocket for medical bills is not feasible for most people. However, do not let the fear of high medical bills prevent you from seeking the medical attention you need. While you navigate the claims process, you may have other options to pay your medical bills.

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Will Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

Health insurance companies and car insurance companies help accident victims pay for medical bills. You may be able to use your health insurance to help you cover medical expenses related to your car accident injuries. However, the amount of coverage available and the type of coverage may vary depending on each policy and the circumstances of the accident.Wooden letter blocks spelling out the name "health insurance" placed on top of an opened daily organizer

Regular Health Insurance

You should not ignore your medical bills and wait until your claim has been resolved. If you do, your unpaid bills can go into collections, possibly affecting your credit rating and financial future. If you have your own health insurance, using it to pay for your accident-related medical bills can be a good option, especially if you need immediate medical attention.

Your health insurance policy may cover some or all of the medical expenses resulting from a car accident. You may need to take care of any copays and your deductible. However, overall, your health insurance should hopefully keep your out-of-pocket expenses at a minimum while navigating the claims process.

It is important to note that your health insurance may limit or exclude coverage for certain types of treatment, such as physical therapy or chiropractic care. If you have medical payments coverage as an additional form of coverage in your auto insurance policy, you may be able to use it to fill in any gaps.

Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay)

Medical payments coverage, known as med pay, is a type of no-fault coverage available in a car insurance policy. California does not require motorists to have med pay coverage, so you will likely only have it if you elect to add it as additional coverage to your policy.

Med pay can help cover necessary and reasonable medical expenses for injuries that result from the accident up to the policy limits. Generally, med pay has a fixed limit. However, the coverage applies to you and your passengers, no matter who is responsible for the accident.

There are benefits to having and using med pay in the event of an accident. For example, because it is no-fault insurance, you do not have to wait until an accident investigation is complete to use it. Additionally, med pay does not require deductibles or copays, unlike regular health insurance. It also does not restrict you on the types of medical providers you can visit.

If you do have health insurance, med pay can act as supplemental coverage. It may fill in some of the gaps in providers your health insurance policy excludes. In addition, you can use med pay for health insurance deductibles or copays.

Understand Your Insurance Coverage After an Accident

Before you try to use your health insurance coverage, it is important to understand what your policy covers and does not cover. You want to avoid getting stuck with unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses. Review your policy documents or contact your health insurance company to learn about your coverage and any applicable limitations or exclusions.

Additionally, reviewing your auto insurance policy to see your car accident coverage is also a good idea. You may have applicable auto insurance coverage like med pay that you can use toward your medical expenses. You may also be able to supplement your health insurance. Generally, med pay has a fixed limit, so knowing how much you have is important. If you are unsure, you can call your car insurance company for more information.Woman reviewing the documents laid out on the table while her clients are listening

We understand that dealing with insurance companies and an accident claim is overwhelming while you focus on recovery. If you do not know where to begin, consider discussing your situation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

An attorney can help you understand your legal options for recovering compensation for your damages. Additionally, an attorney can review your car and health insurance policies and help you determine how to deal with your medical bills during the claims process.

Does Car Insurance or Health Insurance Pay for Injuries First?

When determining how to cover car accident injuries, you may wonder which insurance company should pay your medical expenses first. In most cases, you would use your health insurance company to help cover your medical bills first. Then your car insurance company, if you have applicable coverage, may supplement any remaining expenses.

However, your policies will detail your available insurance coverage and its limitations. It is important to review your policies to determine how best to apply them to your situation.

What Happens if You Suffer Injuries but Do Not Have Health Insurance?

If you suffer injuries in an accident and do not have health insurance, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible. Getting medical help is critical in treating your injuries and helping you recover.

In addition, you need to protect your accident claim. Without medical records, you may be unable to recover financial compensation for your injuries from the negligent driver’s auto insurance company.

You may be able to use med pay coverage to help with medical bills if you have it. You may have other options if you do not have health insurance or med pay. For example, you may be able to negotiate discounts or payment plans with medical providers that work for you.

You may also be able to receive treatment under a medical lien. A medical lien is a claim for repayment based on an agreement between you and a medical provider. A medical provider would treat you without upfront costs in return for reimbursement from your settlement or verdict.

Allen Vaysberg Los Angeles Auto Accident Lawyer

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney From Our Firm

Navigating the auto accident claim process after a car crash can be overwhelming, especially when recovering from injuries and dealing with the impact of medical bills and lost wages. At the Law Offices of Steers & Associates, as reflected in our case results our Los Angeles auto accident attorneys help accident victims recover the compensation they need and deserve.

Our team handles a wide range of auto accident cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. If you have suffered car accident injuries in a California accident, we may be able to help you obtain financial compensation.

We offer a free, no-risk consultation to discuss your unique situation. During a consultation, we can answer your questions and help you understand your best legal options. Call us at (800) 824-5416  or fill out our online contact form to get started.