An estimated 2.5 million Americans each year end up in the emergency room, or visit their health care provider, following an automobile accident. If you have had an automobile accident requiring hospital medical treatment, you need to confirm the hospital and other emergency healthcare providers file their charges with your health insurance. It is the duty of the patient to see that the charges are submitted to health insurance. Hospitals and healthcare providers often do so to guarantee that they are paid for their services.
However, hospitals and other emergency healthcare providers may opt not to file their charges with your health insurance company because they believe they can be paid more from a lawsuit than, than the contract rates they agreed to with your health insurance company. Immediately after an automobile accident emergency room visit or hospitalization, the hospital will file a lien in the court seeking payment for the full amount of the charges, well before the injured person ever realizes they need the assistance of an attorney. Likewise, the other emergency healthcare providers may follow the same plan in an attempt to receive more money. However, this situation oftentimes leaves the innocent injured person bearing unnecessary and often bankrupting medical expenses following an automobile accident injury.
As the injured party, you have a right to quality care and fair billing. Pay attention to your billing statements. Medical bills must be submitted to the health insurance carrier within a year of the date of service. Late filed claims beyond the one year will be denied payment. This process will not increase your premiums. Health insurance companies are paid back for medical charges they pay, from any lawsuit you file as a result of your auto accident. Repayment to your health insurance from money recovered in an injury lawsuit is known as subrogation.
Should the medical claims not be submitted properly, the innocent injured person will still be responsible for medical debts, caused by the fault of others. The patient should be billed the health insurance contract rate for services.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your medical expenses after an auto accident, submit the bills yourself to your health insurance company, and hire an attorney who handles injury cases. Your financial future will depend on your injury lawsuit.