1. Whose insurance will cover medical expenses?
Here are five possible sources for covering medical expenses in a car accident :
(a) Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage
- PIP Coverage (in no-fault states) : PIP is mandatory in some states (e.g., Florida, New York, New Jersey). It covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs.
- MedPay Coverage (Limited Coverage) : Similar to PIP, but it typically only covers medical expenses, not lost wages.
(b) At-Fault Driver’s Liability Insurance
- If the other driver is responsible for the accident , your medical expenses may be covered by their insurance’s ‘Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)’ coverage .
- However, this process can take time and you may have to wait for the claim.
(c) Your health insurance
- If car insurance doesn’t cover all medical costs, your health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, or private health insurance) may cover the rest of the bill.
- In some cases, the health insurance company later seeks reimbursement from the responsible party’s insurance company (subrogation process).
(d) Claim compensation from the offender (Personal Injury Lawsuit)
- If the other driver is responsible and does not have insurance or does not provide adequate coverage, you can sue them.
- A lawsuit can be filed to claim medical expenses, compensation for lost income, and emotional distress due to an accident .
(ঙ) Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)
- If the other driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough , you may be able to get medical bills covered from your own UM/UIM coverage (if your policy includes it).
2. Steps to get medical bills
(1) Notify the insurance company immediately after first aid.
- Contact the insurance company immediately after the accident.
- Save necessary documents and evidence (police reports, photos, hospital bills, doctors’ reports).
(2) Submit the required documents
Typically, the following documents will be required :
Police report (Accident Report)
Hospital bills and medical records
Doctor’s prescription
Medical invoice and proof of medical expenses
Insurance information and claim form
(3) How long will it take for the insurance funds to be released?
- If you have PIP or MedPay, your bill may be paid within 2-4 weeks .
- If the opposing driver claims from their insurance, it may take 1-3 months (for investigation).
- If a lawsuit is filed, it can take from 6 months to 2 years .
3. What if the insurance company doesn’t want to pay the bill?
If the insurance company denies your claim or wants to pay less, you
can: Ask for a review of your claim.
Get help from a personal injury lawyer if necessary.
File a complaint against the insurance company (with the State Insurance Commissioner).
Conclusion
- If you have PIP or MedPay, claim quickly.
- Get compensation from the other party’s liability insurance (if possible).
- See if your health insurance can pay the bill.
- If the other driver does not have insurance, claim UM/UIM.
- If you have insurance problems, consult a lawyer.
You can get compensation quickly if you submit proof of medical bills correctly.
