Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, you may find yourself wondering who is responsible for paying the hefty medical bills you’ve acquired. Do you contact your auto insurance company, your health insurance company, or the at-fault driver’s insurance company? Does your health insurance even cover car accident injuries? If you are perplexed, don’t worry–you’re not alone. Many people ask us this exact same question. Your best line of defense is to contact a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas, NV to discover your options for financial compensation for your injuries.

Understanding your health insurance deductibles

The first major factor to consider after an accident is your deductibles for treatment and care. Before you are eligible for care, your deductibles must be met. Most medical practitioners will first provide the required treatment while simultaneously working with insurance providers to determine financial responsibility.

Use auto insurance as your first defense

The initial payments rendered following an accident will be charged against the auto insurance provider. The State of Nevada mandates drivers to hold liability coverage on their policy at all times, on any vehicle they drive. Liability protection pays a percentage of medical bills acquired for injuries associated with an accident. Depending on who is liable for the crash, either your personal policy or the policy of the other driver will be used to cover the percentage.

Unfortunately, these policies cover very little. On average, liability insurance covers anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 worth of damages. Although that may seem like a good chunk of change, it is relatively small when you take into consideration the average cost of medical care.

Moreover, if you are required to use your personal policy for this coverage, you will be required to pay, at a minimum, 20 percent of the medical bills until the maximum is reached. Once the maximum is met, you will be responsible for the remaining healthcare bill.

Using personal health insurance for your injuries

Once every other form of insurance has been met for your auto accident, you should explore the option of using your personal health insurance as a second line of defense. Like your car insurance policy, you will be required to meet the deductible before the insurance company commences coverage on your treatment. You may also be required to pay co-pays if required by your provider.

It’s important to note that not all policies are alike. Different policies hold different coverage limits, so understanding your health and auto insurance is critical to your financial health.

In certain cases, your lawyer can arrange a payment guarantee with your medical providers upon case settlement. These payment arrangements remain separate from any payments or other financial obligations required by your health insurance provider.

Understanding subrogation

Your health insurance provider will require reimbursement for anything that they paid out on your behalf due to the accident. Reimbursement will be deducted directly from your settlement amount, which can significantly reduce the compensation you are entitled to.

Almost every health insurance policy contains a clause that demands reimbursement for care provided for an auto accident from the negligent party’s insurance. If your health insurance is Medicaid, Medicaid will seek reimbursement at a federal level.

Getting help from a personal injury lawyer

Your best option to successfully navigating the system is to protect your rights as a victim of a personal injury and seek quality legal representation from an experienced lawyer. An attorney can help you manage and fight against the insurance companies to ensure you retain the highest settlement amount possible. Moreover, your lawyer will handle all insurance matters on your behalf so you do not have to.

Hiring an injury lawyer is the single most important thing you can do to ensure a prosperous financial recovery. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact Brian Boyer at (702) 800-0988 for a free, no-obligation case review.

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• What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident With No Insurance
• Injured With No Health Insurance?
• Understanding Your Rights After A Car Accident In Las Vegas, NV