Should I use med pay after a car accident?
You should probably not use med pay after a car accident in Tennessee unless it is absolutely necessary. Most car wreck injury victims have better choices than med pay to satisfy medical bills prior to third party settlement. Decisions after an injury can impact your bottom line. When med pay is exhausted you lose the benefit of having the option available down the road if lengthy or expensive treatment is needed. Every case is different, but if you can initially avoid med pay and utilize other options to satisfy medical bills your car accident settlement can be much bigger.
Personal Injury Attorney George Angelopoulos with 615 Lawyer can review your options and navigate all important parts of your case. We are experienced with various options to manage medical bills after a car accident injury. Call 615-422-7171 or complete our contact form to ask a question or get started today. Consultations are free and their is no fee unless you recovery money.
Medical Payment Auto Insurance Explained
Medical Payment Auto Insurance (commonly called Med Pay) covers hospital and doctor bills up to the policy limit on your policy. Med Pay is not mandatory in Tennessee. Med Pay is no fault coverage meaning the benefit is available for all occupants in your vehicle regardless of who caused the wreck. A general rule in personal injury law is only medical bills that are reasonable and necessary will be paid. Each insurance company has their own guidelines. It is usually a slow process. Some carriers reduce what they will pay leaving you partially paid bills. Every Tennessee med pay insurance policy we encountered included a right of subrogation.
Other options like health insurance, letters of protection, attorney liens and self pay discounts result in personal injury victims refunding much less than 100% putting more money in their pocket. Each option has pros and cons. Every option is not always available.
Med Pay Subrogation
Med pay subrogation is the auto insurance company’s right of reimbursement. Many are not aware of this provision and most policies require 100% repayment. Hospitals have specialists or vendors who review emergency room medical bills. Processes are in place to identify accident related treatment based upon billing codes. They call and mail questionnaires shortly after the car accident injuries attempting to determine what is best for the hospital, not the victim.
If you reduce subrogation then you increase your bottom line settlement. Minimizing this requires proper coordination. Health insurance is usually the recommended option to handle medical bills. Learn more about health insurance here: ‘Can I use my health insurance after a car accident?‘
If you receive contact from a hospital looking for auto insurance information this is a good time to hang up and call Car Accident Lawyer George Angelopoulos at 615-422-7171. We strive to increase your top and bottom line.
Reasons to Use Med Pay
Med pay can be helpful. Many do not have health insurance nor the means to initially pay medical bills especially if you are out of work. Some providers will not accept lien agreements or give cash discounts. Med pay is best utilized when coordinated with discounts or adjustments. Additionally, med pay is a good option when a more expensive up front payment be required under your health plan for major injury treatment, like surgery or prosthetic devices.
The at fault driver is required to pay medical bills caused by car accidents in Tennessee. The method in how we pay the bills can be confusing. Med pay could be best, but because of subrogation, processing delays and limitations we urge car accident clients to review all options to make the best decision for their situation.
Call 615-422-7171 today and let George earn the right to represent your family in their time of need.
