If you have been severely injured in an accident through no fault of your own, the at-fault party should be responsible for your medical bills. They won’t actually pay your doctors directly or reimburse you after every doctor’s appointment, however.
A settlement from the other party’s insurance company could take some time to secure, depending on how long your medical treatment lasts and other factors. Unfortunately for accident victims, most health care providers want payment right away. This is why reimbursement for payment of medical bills will be a component of any personal injury settlement or verdict that you seek.
Paying Your Bills Before You Receive Compensation
So, you might be wondering “how do I pay my medical bills while I wait for my injury case to resolve?” Fortunately, there are several different options that might be available to you, including:
- Health insurance – If you have health insurance, you might be able to turn to your policy to pay for medical bills just as you would for any other injury or illness. While there will still be deductibles and co-pays to meet, this is usually significantly cheaper than paying out of pocket.
- Hospital assistance programs – Since most hospitals in Iowa are “not-for-profit” organizations, they have a responsibility to assist those who are hurt, even if they don’t have insurance. You might be able to apply for financial assistance through the hospital by asking about programs through their billing department.
- MedPay – While there is no Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance offered in Iowa, insurance companies in our state often provide medical payments coverage (often referred to as MedPay) to assist with hospital bills after an accident, even if the crash was your fault.
- Legal assistance – Depending on your circumstances, your injury attorney might be able to help you get your medical bills paid while you wait for your case to resolve. Talk to your attorney about your rights and legal options.
Recovering Compensation for Medical Bills
You can get compensation for medical bills by negotiating a settlement with the insurance company or by seeking damages in court. Most cases settle long before a lawsuit needs to be filed, but your lawyer will need to first negotiate with the insurance company to reach a full and fair settlement. An experienced personal injury lawyer can make sure the settlement accounts for your current and future medical expenses. If another party was responsible for your injuries, they could and should be responsible for reimbursing you for your medical expenses and more under Iowa law.
To maximize your compensation for medical expenses, you will need to, with the help of an attorney, provide plenty of evidence, including medical bills and medical records that show the amount of money you’ve paid. You will also want to keep track of other related expenses like rehabilitation and therapy costs, travel expenses to and from treatment, prescription medications and medical devices, and more.
You’ll want an accurate account of all the expenses you’ve incurred to ensure that you are fully reimbursed when the time comes.
Contact an Iowa Injury Attorney for Help
The Council Bluffs personal injury lawyers at Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP are committed to helping injured clients get the compensation they need for all current and future medical bills associated with the accident. We proudly serve clients throughout Iowa and Nebraska. Call 712) 227-6842 now for a free and confidential consultation to discuss how we can help you.