Your health insurance can cover medical treatment for injuries you suffer in a car accident in Dallas, as long as the treatment qualifies as medically necessary under your policy.
However, in most car accident cases, health insurance functions as a type of secondary coverage. This means your health insurance provider will only start covering your accident-related medical bills after you have exhausted your primary coverage, which is usually an auto insurance policy.
If you do use your health insurance after a car accident in Dallas, you’ll still be responsible for your deductible, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, your insurer may demand reimbursement later on if you recover compensation from an at-fault driver.
An experienced Dallas personal injury attorney at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. can help you understand your options for covering your medical bills after a car accident.
Who Pays for Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Texas?
After a crash in Texas, the at-fault driver is typically responsible for paying the victim’s medical bills. If another driver caused your wreck, you could get coverage from that driver’s liability insurance. But you’ll have to file a claim and prove fault before they’ll pay you.
In the meantime, hospitals and doctors will still bill you for treatment, and they won’t always wait for an insurance dispute or lawsuit to resolve before expecting payment. That means it’s important to identify every available source of coverage as soon as possible, which may include:
- If you have personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) coverage as part of your auto insurance policy, it can help pay for your medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash.
- You might also have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your policy, which can apply when the driver doesn’t have any insurance or enough to cover your losses.
- Your health insurance coverage might apply if you’ve exhausted all other sources of coverage.
A Dallas car accident attorney can review all available policies, explain what applies, and pursue compensation so you are not left paying your medical bills out of pocket.
Can Health Insurance Deny Coverage After a Car Accident?
Health insurance companies can deny coverage in certain situations, but they typically cannot deny a valid claim simply because a car accident caused your injuries – unless the policy says otherwise. Most plans must cover medically necessary treatment under the terms of the policy.
However, your insurer may dispute whether the treatment qualifies as necessary, whether you followed referral requirements, or whether you received care from an out-of-network provider. An insurer may also delay payment while it investigates other available coverage, such as PIP or liability insurance.
If your health insurance claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. A lawyer can review your denial letter, gather supporting medical records, and communicate with insurers to challenge improper decisions.
Do I Have to Refund My Health Insurer When My Car Accident Case Settles?
If your health insurer pays for accident-related treatment and you later recover compensation from the at-fault driver, the insurer may have a right to reimbursement. This process is known as subrogation. Your policy documents will usually outline how the subrogation process works.
Without a careful review of your insurer’s claim, you may repay more than required. An attorney can examine your health insurance policy, calculate the proper reimbursement amount, and negotiate with your insurer to protect as much of your settlement as possible.
What If I Don’t Have Insurance to Cover My Injury Expenses?
Even though the at-fault driver may be responsible for your losses, their liability coverage usually doesn’t pay until you resolve your car accident claim. It won’t cover your bills as treatment progresses, and that delay can create considerable pressure. If you don’t have your own insurance to rely on, you’re likely wondering what you can do in the meantime.
Fortunately, some medical providers will agree to treat you under a letter of protection, which allows you to delay payment until your case is resolved. An experienced car accident attorney can identify all available coverage options and communicate with providers so you can receive medical care while your claim is pending.
What Is PIP Coverage and How Does It Work in Texas?
Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of optional auto insurance coverage in Texas that pays for some of your losses after a car accident, regardless of fault.
Here’s what you need to know about PIP coverage in Texas:
- Texas insurers must offer PIP when you purchase a policy, but you may reject it in writing.
- If you did not reject it, your policy likely includes at least $2,500 in PIP coverage.
- PIP covers your accident-related medical expenses within three years of the crash, up to your policy limits.
- If your injuries prevent you from work, PIP can cover 80 percent of your lost wages, up to your policy limits.
- PIP generally applies to you, your passengers, members of your household, and any drivers with your permission to drive your car.
Because PIP doesn’t involve fault, it can provide relatively quick access to the funds you need for treatment. You don’t need to wait for insurers or other investigators to assign blame before PIP will kick in.
What Is MedPay and How Is It Different From PIP?
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage is another type of optional auto insurance in Texas. It also pays for your medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of fault. The key difference is that MedPay generally only covers medical expenses. It does not help with lost wages or other non-medical costs.
Because both PIP and MedPay are optional, you may have one, both, or neither as part of your auto insurance. The details of your policy determine how your provider may cover your losses. An attorney can analyze your auto insurance documents, explain what kind of coverage you have, and help you decide how to use that coverage while protecting your right to recover compensation.
Which Insurance Pays First After a Texas Car Accident?
The order of payment after a Texas car accident depends on the policies involved. However, it may look like this:
- Your own coverage typically applies before the at-fault driver’s insurance. If you carry PIP or MedPay, those benefits usually pay first because they apply regardless of fault and don’t require you to wait for a liability determination.
- Health insurance often serves as secondary coverage in this context. Once you exhaust your auto benefits, your health insurer may cover medically necessary treatment under the terms of your plan.
- The at-fault driver’s liability insurance will likely be your last compensation source. If you file a successful claim against the at-fault driver, that payout can provide reimbursement for medical expenses and other losses, though some of the money might go to your healthcare providers.
How Our Dallas Car Accident Lawyers Help with Medical Bills and Insurance Disputes
After a car accident in Dallas, you might start receiving medical bills before you know which insurance policy applies or who will ultimately pay. The team at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. can help you sort through your options and figure out how to handle your medical expenses by:
- Examining your health insurance policy to determine what treatment your plan may cover
- Evaluating your auto insurance policy, including PIP, MedPay, and UM/UIM coverage
- Handling discussions with your insurers to clarify coverage and prevent misstatements
- Investigating whether another driver’s liability insurance might cover your medical expenses
- Working with medical providers to reduce or delay charges while your claim is pending
- Evaluating and negotiating reimbursement demands from your health insurer
- Coordinating agreements that allow you to receive treatment without upfront payment
- Gathering and organizing billing records to support insurance claims and settlement demands
- Preparing an injury claim to seek compensation that reimburses you for your medical costs
Talk to Our Dallas Car Accident Attorneys Today
If you have questions about how to pay your medical bills after a car accident in Dallas, the lawyers at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. can help. We have more than 50 years of experience helping Texans like you recover from serious injury accidents. Here’s what one former client had to say:
“Thank you so much for everything you did for us. If it wasn’t for your amazing team we wouldn’t have known where to start…” – Jose R.
When you come to us for help, we can review your coverage options, work with your medical providers, and prepare a strong compensation claim against the at-fault driver. Call us today at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online for your free consultation to discuss your case with our team.
