What Happens If You Can’t Afford Medical Treatment After an Accident?
After an accident, medical bills can quickly become overwhelming. Being worried about how to handle paying for treatment is not a unique experience and tends to happen to most people that are faced with these awful situations. What a lot of people fail to realize is that you may have more options than you initially think.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay Medical Treatment
Medical treatment following an accident can be scary, especially thinking about the cost. Unfortunately, delaying medical treatment can negatively impact both your health and your case when the time comes to take legal action. Some injuries may not show symptoms immediately, like concussions or internal bleeding. This is why acting fast for a medical exam helps to prevent serious injuries from spiraling out of control.
As far as your legal claim is concerned, insurance companies look for gaps in treatment. If you take days or weeks before getting seen by a medical professional, these companies can try arguing that your injuries weren’t actually that serious or that they may have been caused by something other than the accident. Having documentation that shows direct medical care in a timely fashion helps paint the picture of linking the accident to the injury.
Health Insurance Can Cover Initial Treatment
If you have health insurance, it can be used to cover the injury a lot of the time, even if someone else was at fault. Later on, if you recover compensation through a legal settlement, your insurance company could have the right to request reimbursement for the amounts that it paid. This process is called subrogation, and it’s usually handled at the time of negotiating the settlement. Using your health insurance up front can help give you the proper treatment while minimizing your costs.
Medical Payment Coverage
Many auto insurance policies in Nebraska include Medical Payments coverage. This coverage can help with medical expenses that are related to an accident, no matter who is at fault. This coverage usually applies to things like ambulance bills, emergency room visits, and any other immediate medical costs.
Limits to medical payments coverage are usually fairly low, but they still can provide short-term relief as far as medical costs are concerned. Since it’s no-fault coverage, it can be used quickly while the actual investigation is still ongoing. Reviewing this policy with an attorney can help you understand whether or not it’s available in your specific situation.
Treatment on a Medical Lien
In some cases, healthcare providers can agree to treat accident victims using a medical lien. This means that they agree to delay charging payment until the personal injury case is fully resolved. Instead of paying upfront, the bills will be paid out of the final settlement once it’s been decided upon.
Medical liens can allow people that have been injured to receive the right care without having out-of-pocket costs right away; however, liens must be managed carefully so that they aren’t taking up an unfair amount of your recovery. An experienced attorney can help decide on lien arrangements and negotiate the right percentages when necessary.
Nebraska’s Comparative Fault Rules
Nebraska operates under a comparative fault system, which means that if you’re partially responsible for the accident, your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault. Regardless, medical treatment should not be delayed, and your health should still receive immediate attention for your best chance at favorable legal results.
Government Programs and Financial Assistance
If you don’t have health insurance, there are other forms of help available. Medicaid can help provide coverage for those eligible, along with individual hospitals and clinics that have specialized assistance programs that are meant to be used by those in need. These are all worth looking into while your case is still pending.
How a Nebraska Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
The best way to handle all of this is with the proper legal guidance. Shasteen, Morris, & Ockander in Lincoln have a team of experienced attorneys ready to break down your options. Make sure you reach out for your free consultation as soon as possible.
