Many accident victims want to know—does health insurance cover car accident injuries? Most health insurance plans cover medical bills for injuries sustained in vehicle accidents, but restrictions will apply according to individual policy provisions and limits.
Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?
Generally, health insurance policies cover medical expenses for car accident injuries, but limitations may apply based on policy restrictions like co-pays and deductibles, type of car insurance coverage, and fault for the accident. Insurance providers will examine all of these factors to determine their amount of liability on a car accident claim before making any payments on behalf of a policyholder. When does health insurance cover car accidents? The answer may not be as straightforward as it appears.
Auto Insurance Policies Pay First
When a car accident occurs, the driver’s auto insurance takes priority for claims, since all drivers are required to have basic liability car insurance coverage. While liability coverage can vary significantly between states, most medical bills related to car accidents are paid up to the at-fault driver’s policy limits. Does health insurance cover car accident bills? Liability insurance has to pay out first.
PIP and MedPay
PIP and MedPay are types of car insurance used in no-fault states that pay for medical bills following car accidents. PIP covers medical bills and lost income, while MedPay covers only medical bills. Typically, MedPay is sold as a less expensive alternative or an add-on to PIP coverage.
When a driver’s auto policy includes personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (MedPay), medical bills for car accident injuries are typically paid, regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. PIP and MedPay do not have out-of-pocket deductibles, so medical expenses are paid as long as they don’t exceed PIP or MedPay coverage limits. In Illinois, PIP is not available to drivers since Illinois is an at-fault state, but drivers can add MedPay coverage to their auto policies. In no fault insurance states, the answer to—does health insurance cover car accident injuries—is that PIP and MedPay, if available, have to pay out first.
Health Insurance Policies Pay Second
Health insurance does pay for car accident injuries. However, claims should be filed through a personal injury lawyer or health insurance provider second. When a health insurance provider pays for medical bills first, they will simply turn around and file a claim against the car insurance company.
Hospitals, doctors, and ambulance services don’t require upfront payments to treat serious or life-threatening injuries, but they do require insurance information to pursue reimbursement. When emergency medical care is provided immediately following a car accident to protect the patient from harm, care providers may work with the patient’s personal injury lawyer and the patient’s insurance providers to arrange necessary reimbursement for medical services provided. Reimbursement may be full payment or payment arrangements over a designated time period.
In some cases, accident victims suffer serious injuries from car accidents. Their medical bills can be extremely high, and they need to know how they are going to pay for them. They may ask—does health insurance pay for car accident injuries? The answer is yes. However, it only pays out after all available auto insurance policies have paid out. In some cases, even after all available insurance policies have paid out, accident victims still need additional help to pay medical bills and lost wages.
In that case, accident victims may want to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent parties that caused the accident. A Chicago car accident attorney can help victims determine how to recover any available payouts from insurance companies and how to bring a lawsuit for damages.
Does health insurance pay for car accident injuries? The answer is yes. However, which policy pays first varies from case to case.
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Chicago personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney Howard Ankin has a passion for justice and a relentless commitment to defending injured victims throughout the Chicagoland area. With decades of experience achieving justice on behalf of the people of Chicago, Howard has earned a reputation as a proven leader in and out of the courtroom. Respected by peers and clients alike, Howard’s multifaceted approach to the law and empathetic nature have secured him a spot as an influential figure in the Illinois legal system.
