How Do I Pay My Medical Bills While My Personal Injury Claim is Open?

medical billsIf you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation. However, the process of filing a claim and recovering the compensation you need for medical bills and other damages takes time.

How do you pay for the medical treatment you need while your lawyer seeks a settlement?

You can discuss your options for paying for medical care while your injury claim is being processed with a licensed car accident attorney in Charleston in a free consultation. We do not charge you anything up front and only get paid if you do.

File a Claim Through Your Own Car Insurance Policy

Unlike some other at-fault states, South Carolina does not offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage to drivers. PIP pays for the policyholder’s medical treatment.

In South Carolina, drivers instead have the option to purchase Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage to help with medical bills while awaiting a verdict or settlement for an injury claim.

If you do not have health insurance or are concerned that it will not cover much of your medical costs, you may want to consider purchasing MedPay. Car crash injuries can be very expensive to treat, and many people do not have the financial means to pay for it. Missing payments will likely hurt your credit score and may result in calls from debt collectors, adding more stress to an already stressful situation.  

Using Your Health Insurance Policy

If you have health insurance, this may be the best option while you wait for a potential settlement of your claim. This is what often happens, as many drivers do not have MedPay coverage in their car insurance policies.

However, the health insurance company is likely to pursue reimbursement from the liable insurance company for any costs they paid out. This process is called subrogation, and it means your compensation award would be reduced by the amount your health insurance paid out.

With the help from one of our attorneys, you may be able to negotiate a lower payback amount so you may be able to keep more of the compensation your lawyer recovers.

Negotiate a Payment Agreement with the Medical Provider

If you do not have MedPay or health insurance, our attorneys may be able to work with you to find medical providers who will agree to treat you on a contingency basis. This means that our attorneys would negotiate with the doctor or medical center to have their services paid for after your claim is settled or a verdict is reached in your favor.

Other Options

Every injury victim’s life situation is just as unique as his or her injury claim, which means that some people may have other options to help pay for medical treatment:

  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Veterans Affairs Benefits

Family members or loved ones may also be willing and able to help. You could pay them back after you receive your settlement.

Hospitals and other medical providers are often willing to negotiate monthly payment amounts. You may be able to negotiate an amount you can afford to pay until your injury claim is settled. However, it is important to remember if you miss a payment, the provider may demand you immediately pay the rest of the bill.

It is important not to delay medical treatment, as it could result in the worsening of your injuries. If you are concerned about how to pay your medical bills, Roden Law may be able to help.   

Call Roden Law Today to Discuss Your Claim

Whether you need help filing your injury claim or negotiating a lower rate for your medical bills, our attorneys are prepared to assist you.

Do not let the insurance companies take advantage of you. Let the attorneys at Roden Law stand up for your rights. We do not charge you anything while we work on your claim and only get paid if you do.