If you have been injured in a California motorcycle accident, it is likely you have medical bills to pay. When someone else was at fault for that accident, you may not know who needs to pay those bills or how you can get treatment if you do not have insurance. Keep reading to get the answers to those and other questions, then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Someone Else May Be Responsible for Paying Your Medical Bills
If another party breached their duty of care to you, then they are responsible for paying your medical bills as well as other damages caused by your injuries. That said, they are not likely to pay those bills immediately after your injury. Instead, you will need to find a way to have your bills paid while you wait for your personal injury case to settle or go through litigation.
The best way to pay your bills in the interim will depend on several factors. It may be that you have health insurance that covers the bills. You may be eligible for a government program, such as Medicare or Medi-Cal. It may be that you have a homeowner’s policy or rental policy that covers your accent.
What to Do if You Do Not Have Health Insurance
If you are injured in an accident and do not have health insurance, the law in California requires that the hospital negotiates a reasonable payment plan if you are uninsured and your family income is not more than 350% of the federal property level. Providers may also be willing to accept a medical lien in which they provide services and are repaid through your personal injury case.
Use Private Insurance if You Have It
Sometimes injured parties wonder: If I can get a medical lien, is it better to do that than have my insurance cover it? In most cases, no. Note that if in most cases, if you choose a medical lien you will be responsible for the entire amount and cannot negotiate. On the other hand, if you use your private health insurance, the hospital cannot charge more than the contracted rate.
If your private insurance policy began after 2014 then there is no lifetime maximum or yearly cap, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. You will also generally have more providers from whom you can choose if you use your private health insurance coverage.
Call Us Today with Any Questions about Settling Your Case
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we are standing by to help you with your case. Contact us now at 909-982-0707 and we can consider your options. Whether you have grounds for a lawsuit or not, it is worth talking to a legal professional who can answer your questions.
