If you were hurt in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault, taking care of the bills for your injuries can be a complex process. Using your own personal health insurance policy is one way to get costs covered, but the hospital or doctor’s office may balk at doing so, and there are other places that you may want to look for financial coverage first before you make this choice. Here are some options to consider before you bill your health insurance—and what to do if the hospital gives you grief.
Sources of Compensation After a Car Accident
The most important source of financial recovery is often from the insurance policy of the driver responsible for the accident. You’ll have to file a claim against this coverage and convince the insurance company of your case. You can start this process yourself, or an experienced personal injury attorney can help.
If you have personal injury protection (PIP) as a part of your car insurance policy, you may wish to file a claim against your own insurance. You can also use underinsured/uninsured motorist (UM) or medical payment coverage (MPC or MedPay) if they are a part of your plan. However, PIP, UM, and MPC are not required by Oklahoma state law, so these options may or may not be available to you depending on your coverage.
Accessing your personal health insurance should be a last resort after all other methods are exhausted. When you make this choice, you are responsible for all deductibles and co-pays, regardless of cost. You could end up with a lot of out-of-pocket expenses, especially if the hospital is not a member of your insurance company’s provider network, and you risk potentially maxing out your plan’s lifetime benefit allowances.
How to Get Legal Help After a Car Accident
When in doubt, contact a personal injury attorney. This counsel can help you sort out the confusing legal and financial circumstances after your crash and evaluate the amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Scott Ray has decades of legal experience to help you with your insurance claims and the legal process of seeking financial recovery from an accident that wasn’t your fault. He's a small-town lawyer using his big-city sensibilities to benefit the local community in Lawton and surrounding areas, and he’s ready to help you in your time of need.
Contact him by phone or use the contact form on this page to find out how he can help you and your family.
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