Medicare Liens Are Dangerous and Automatic--Beware!

Medicare liens may automatically attach to your auto accident insurance claim without your knowing it!  If your medical bills are being paid by Medicare, the government has an automatic lien on your settlement.  But what if you are not on Medicare?  Even if you are not on Medicare, the government may have an automatic lien on your claim.  There are various ways that a federal government automatic Medicare lien can attach to you claim even when you are not currently on Medicare and even though none of your medical bills have been paid by Medicare.

Neither Medicare, nor any agency of the federal government, is required to notify you of a Medicare lien.  It is automatic.  The law says that you are expected to know when a Medicare lien applies.  As they say, "Ignorance is no excuse!"  Therefore, if you settle your automobile accident case and do not satisfy a Medicare lien, the federal government can come after your assets to not only collect the lien amount, but to also collect penalties!

In addition, if a Medicare lien attaches to your case, it not only requires you to reimburse Medicare for the bills it paid, but also may require you to create a set aside account to pay for your future medical bills.  Failure to create a required set aside account could result in your loosing Medicare benefits. 

Therefore, you should always verify whether a Medicare lien applies to your case.  An experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorney should be able to explain whether a Medicare lien attaches to your case.