What if I have medical bills resulting from the accident?

If you have medical bills resulting from an accident, you may be concerned about how to pay them. The good news is that insurance can cover these expenses. The bad news is that it might not cover them immediately.

Your coverage type (and extent) will determine when and how you receive payment. This article will help you understand how auto insurance works and which types of coverage will cover your medical bills.

Types of Insurance Coverage for Medical Bills Resulting From an Accident

If you are injured in an auto accident and need medical treatment, you are usually responsible for paying your medical bills upfront. Any compensation from your insurance company or the at-fault party will usually come later.

How can you know if you are covered for medical expenses that result from an auto accident? Below we list different types of insurance and how they relate to medical bills resulting from an auto accident.

MedPay Auto Insurance

You can add medical payments coverage (MedPay) to your auto insurance policy, and it will cover medical expenses related to injuries sustained in an auto accident. This extra coverage will help pay medical bills up to the coverage limits (usually less than $10,000).

Anything over and beyond these policy limits will be your (or your health insurance company’s) responsibility.

The At-Fault Party’s Liability Coverage

If the other driver is found to be at fault, their liability coverage can help pay for your medical bills. Affordable liability auto insurance coverage will pay for any damage that you are legally determined to be responsible for in an accident up to the policy limits.

This includes property damage and personal injuries. In the U.S., drivers are required by law to have liability insurance in most states.

Minimum coverage amounts vary by state, so it’s a good idea to check the minimums for injury coverage in your state and decide if you want additional underinsured motorist coverage (explained below).

Uninsured/underinsured Motorist Coverage

What happens if you hit an uninsured driver? If the at-fault party has no liability coverage to cover your medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can help cover your bills. You will need to ask your insurer to add this additional coverage to your policy.

Private Health Insurance or Medicaid

Health insurance will cover some of your medical bills, depending on your policy stipulations and coverage limit. You can typically get the hospital or doctor to send bills directly to them after you’ve met any co-insurance and deductibles.

There are affordable auto insurance quotes for Medicaid recipients available. This coverage, a provision offered under your standard Medicaid coverage, will only cover medical injuries sustained during an accident and not any property damage.

Paying Medical Bills Resulting From an Accident in a No-Fault State

If you live in a no-fault state, you must pay your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident. This is why drivers are required to take out no-fault auto insurance, also known as personal injury protection (PIP) auto insurance coverage. This covers them for any injuries they incur in an accident.

Auto Insurance Covers Some (But Not All) Medical Bills Resulting From an Accident

What does auto insurance cover when paying medical bills resulting from the accident? It will usually pay for injuries associated with an accident, but you may need additional coverage to ensure you are not left with a hefty sum to pay out of pocket.

Where to Send Auto Insurance Claims

If you have different types of insurance coverage, it can be confusing trying to work out where to send your claims. Your primary insurance policy will be your first port of call when looking to submit a claim for medical bills.

However, your secondary coverage will only apply once you’ve reached your primary policy’s coverage limits. Typically, any applicable auto insurance comes before your health insurance but talk to your insurance company to determine your primary coverage.

The Bottom Line on Medical Bills Resulting From an Accident

If you are in an auto accident and sustain serious injuries, the medical bills can pile up quickly. While your standard auto insurance may offer some coverage for personal injuries, the policy limit may not be enough to cover your expenses.

Ensure you have sufficient coverage between your auto and health insurance, even if the accident isn’t your fault.