Recovering from an accident in New Mexico can be difficult physically, emotionally and financially. Serious injuries can cost thousands of dollars in medical care alone – and you may be billed immediately by a hospital. If someone else is at fault for your injury, this can provide financial relief in the form of a settlement. While your case is pending, however, you are responsible for paying for your medical bills.
Your Albuquerque, NM car crash lawyer can challenge incorrect or inflated medical bills and reduce reimbursement liens so that more of the claim settlement goes to you.
Options for Paying Your Medical Bills Upfront
If you receive emergency care or medical treatments in the aftermath of a harmful accident in New Mexico, you will be legally responsible for paying for them. You may have to pay out of pocket, set up a payment plan with the hospital or rely on your insurance to pay initial costs.
If someone else is found to be at fault (liable) for your injuries at a later date, they can be required to reimburse you or make you whole again. At first, however, you will be billed by the hospital directly and expected to pay. A few payment options may be available to you.
Health Insurance
Your health insurance should cover your medical bills upfront. However, if you receive a settlement for the same medical bills later, you are required to reimburse the health insurance company. This arrangement is known as a medical lien. It allows the health insurance company to place a lien on a portion of your settlement in exchange for paying for your health care costs initially.
MedPay Insurance
MedPay, or Medical Payment, insurance is a first-party type of coverage that may exist on your own auto insurance policy. If so, you can use it to pay for your medical bills after a car accident regardless of who is at fault. There may or may not be a deductible, depending on your policy. If someone else is liable, you can use the settlement won to reimburse your insurance company.
Letter of Protection
Another option is to have a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque, NM issue a Letter of Protection to your health care provider. This letter gives the lawyer’s guarantee that unpaid medical costs will be paid once the personal injury case is resolved and reaches a settlement. It can allow you to pause billing and collections while your claim is underway.
Paying Your Medical Bills After a Settlement
Once your case ends and you receive a settlement from a defendant, some of the money will be used to pay back what you owe for medical expenses. Hiring a lawyer can help you minimize your medical costs as much as possible. Your lawyer can negotiate with an insurance company or medical center to try to reduce the amount of a lien, allowing you to keep more of your settlement funds.
An attorney will allocate the correct amount of your settlement to your unpaid bills before giving you what remains. This may include owed medical costs as well as the attorney’s fees. Your lawyer can challenge incorrect or inflated medical bills and reduce reimbursement liens so that more of the claim settlement goes to you. For more information about how to pay for your medical bills after an accident or how medical liens work in New Mexico, contact The Fine Law Firm for a free consultation.