Health insurance may cover some medical care expenses related to car accident injuries, though liability car insurance policies usually take precedence in providing this protection.
PIP and MedPay policies, typically found in no-fault states, cover medical bills up to their specified policy limits without incurring a deductible payment requirement.
What is an accident?
Accidents are unplanned events that cause physical harm, from minor cuts and scrapes to disfiguring car crashes. Accidental injuries can be costly to treat when out-of-network care providers or health insurance deductibles come into play, so accidents should always be taken seriously and managed accordingly.
Accident insurance policies offer cash payouts to cover medical expenses related to accidental injuries. They serve as an important bridge between major medical and critical illness policies and offer coverage in case of loss of limb or permanent disability caused by accidents as well as death due to them.
Personal accident plans are among the most cost-effective supplemental plans, making them an excellent addition to existing health insurance coverage. A personal accident plan may provide added peace of mind for individuals leading active lifestyles or with high health insurance deductibles or copays, providing compensation in case of accident-related losses in income due to accidents. Most plans pay benefits within days after activation and do not require medical exams or waiting periods before paying out benefits.
What is not covered?
Most medical bills resulting from car accident injuries follow the same pattern as any other treatment: You’ll receive an invoice from a hospital (or ambulance company), asking you for information on your policy/plan in order to process payment for services provided.
Your health insurance should cover treatment for car accident injuries up to your annual out-of-pocket limit; this figure includes your deductible, copays and coinsurance payments but does not account for premium payments.
However, your health insurance may not be considered the primary provider if PIP or MedPay benefits are included on your car policy. PIP/MedPay benefits pay for care upfront before your health insurer files a claim against an at-fault party’s insurer to cover what remains. Hospitals, ambulance companies and doctors don’t want to wait months or years before being paid for their services so they’ll work quickly with both parties involved and insurance providers in order to settle matters swiftly.
How do I know if my accident is covered?
Given the prevalence of high-deductible health plans at work, it can be challenging for families to rely solely on core medical coverage when an accident happens; that’s where additional accident coverage comes in handy.
If you are transported by ambulance from the scene of an automobile accident to hospital, a bill could arise for the ride, potentially running into thousands of dollars depending on how the incident transpired. Your healthcare providers will work with your insurance providers and identify who owes which amount.
However, when hospitals must deal with multiple insurance providers at once it can be challenging to manage payments and avoid collections. Our New York City car accident lawyers have seen many families struggle with unpaid medical bills caused by disputes between healthcare and auto insurers regarding policy technicalities or unclear responsibilities; accident insurance can help avoid this outcome by offering quick cash payments to help cover unexpected expenses associated with an accident.