At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Georgia personal injury attorneys understand that after another party’s negligence has hurt you — whether in a traffic collision or another event — mounting medical bills can cause significant stress and anxiety to the injured person and their family.
Fortunately, during the personal injury claim process, your medical bills may be paid through various means, depending on the circumstances of your case and available insurance coverage.
Here, we discuss some common ways medical bills may be addressed during a personal injury claim.
Health Insurance Can Help Cover Your Immediate Medical Expenses
If you have health insurance, your health insurance provider may initially cover your medical bills related to the injury. This can include hospital visits, surgeries, doctor’s appointments, medication, and other medical expenses.
However, your health insurance provider may seek reimbursement from any settlement or judgment you receive due to your personal injury claim through subrogation.
Add-On Auto Insurance Coverage May Help Protect You After a Crash
Georgia does not require drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage or Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay), but they can be purchased as optional coverage.
PIP benefits can help cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs resulting from a vehicle collision, regardless of fault.
MedPay helps drivers and passengers cover crash-related medical bills, regardless of fault, but has more limited coverage than PIP.
Out-of-Pocket Payments May Be Necessary
You may need to pay some medical bills out-of-pocket, especially if you have high deductibles, copayments, or expenses not covered by insurance. Keep track of all your medical expenses, including receipts and invoices, as these costs may be recoverable as part of your personal injury claim.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim May Cover All Your Crash-Related Damages
If someone else’s negligence caused your crash and injuries, you may file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party’s liability insurance coverage. If successful, your settlement or judgment may include compensation for past and future medical expenses related to your injury.
We can help. Partnering with a Georgia personal injury attorney is crucial in some cases, especially when healthcare providers may agree to provide treatment on a lien basis, meaning they delay billing until your personal injury claim is resolved.
Once your claim is settled, the medical provider may be paid directly from the settlement proceeds.
Our personal injury lawyers negotiate with healthcare providers to reduce outstanding medical bills or reach payment agreements that consider the resolution of your personal injury claim.
If you have been injured because of another person’s negligence in Georgia, contact our skilled personal injury lawyers and support team at Ashby Thelen Lowry today at (404) 777-7771 to schedule a free consultation to ensure your rights are protected so you can make informed decisions about the direction of your claim.