When you get involved in a car accident, the first thing that may come to your mind is your medical bills. Healthcare costs can surely be a headache. You may have bills piling up from hospitalization, surgery, ongoing treatment, etc. Even if you file a claim, it could be months before you can get your hands on the insurance money.
In a car accident, the liable party’s insurance is supposed to pay for the victim’s injuries. However, it can be stressful to deal with the medical bills in the meantime. a car accident attorney in Stockton can tell you what your options are in this confusing time.
Ways to pay your medical bills after a car accident
-
MedPay.
When you buy your auto insurance policy in Stockton, they give you an option to add MedPay to the coverage. MedPay covers your medical bills in a car accident to an extent, no matter whose fault it was. If the other party does not have insurance or is still fighting for your compensation, you could use your MedPay coverage to pay the bills. However, this option only works if you have added it to your insurance.
-
Health insurance.
You cannot expect to receive compensation from the other party right after the accident. Therefore, health insurance should be one of your first choices to pay for your bills. It is better to use your coverage rather than wait for the other party to pay. Even if you do not have enough coverage, it can still significantly reduce costs.
-
Personal Injury Protection.
A PIP or Personal Injury Protection is an add-on to your regular auto insurance policy that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages in the case of a car accident, no matter whose fault it was. With a PIP, you can receive up to $10,000 in compensation. Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you could still recover some of the amounts to pay for your medical bills.
-
Payment plan or medical lien.
Some hospitals and doctors allow you to arrange a payment plan with them. One arrangement is where you have to make monthly payments until you get the money from the other party. Another option is that you do not pay any upfront fees at all. You only pay the entire bill at once when you settle your claim with the other party. However, not all hospitals agree to this.
Watching your medical bills from the hospital pile up can be stressful, especially when dealing with your painful injuries and trauma from the accident. An attorney can provide relief by lessening your burden. Contact them today.
