In cases involving personal injury, it is normal practice to negotiate medical bills after a settlement has been reached. There is a possibility that the party that paid for the treatment will have subrogation rights if it was paid for by an insurance company or with a lien (or the right to be reimbursed out of the settlement proceeds).
However, there is a possibility that the underlying bills might not contain accurate or reasonable information. Through effective negotiation, you may be able to get your bills down to a few cents on the dollar, so boosting the amount of money you take away from the situation.
When you hire a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury case, that lawyer will frequently negotiate the terms of the medical bills on your behalf. A competent attorney knows how to negotiate with creditors and lienholders to get debts substantially lowered and, in some cases, completely waived. Keep reading to learn more and then contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 for a legal consultation.
After I was in an accident, how will I pay for my medical bills?
If you are injured as a result of the carelessness of another person, you are going to require medical attention. The costs of that medical care start piling up as soon as it is rendered, which is a significant amount of time before you make a claim with your insurance company or a lawsuit against the party who was at responsibility for the accident.
The majority of the time, these costs are first covered by your workers’ compensation coverage, your medical liens, or your health insurance, as well as any add-on plans for your motor insurance coverage. In the event that you then win a personal injury case and receive compensation for the money your insurance paid, your insurance company must be paid back from that compensation – in some cases.
What exactly is a “medical lien”?
A medical lien is an agreement between you and your healthcare provider regarding payment. Instead of paying for your medical care at the time it is provided, you make an agreement to pay for it out of a settlement or verdict related to your personal injury claim in the future. It essentially makes it possible for you to pay for medical treatment using credit.
Medical liens are most frequently filed when patients sustain injuries due to the carelessness of a third party and do not have health insurance or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage or other “no-fault” auto insurance, like “Med Pay” insurance,.
The fact that you might get medical attention as a result of these liens makes them quite valuable. You are able to get it despite the fact that you do not have the necessary cash or insurance coverage for it. You will, however, be required to pay back your healthcare providers out of the settlement money that you get.
