In today’s dismal economic times, health insurance is a luxury that many people cannot afford. In fact, today I was talking with a 52 year old man who was laid off from his job a year ago, who had no health insurance, and who had just been rear-ended in a car wreck. Because he had no health insurance, he was having a difficult time finding any doctor who would treat him for a back injury that he had suffered in the crash.
Most people don’t realize that if they are involved in a car or motorcycle wreck that was caused by another person that the liability insurer for that person will not pay their medical expenses as they are incurred, but only when the case is completely settled. In many cases, necessary medical care can last for months, or even years. In the meantime, unpaid medical bills can ruin a good credit history that took years to build.
In addition, finding a competent doctor, physical therapist or other health care provider who will wait to be paid until the case is settled or who is willing to work out payment arrangements can be difficult. Even hospitals that claim to be not for profit seem to have a policy of “in God we trust, all others pay cash” when it comes to paying for medical care.
One possible solution to this problem is to carry a type of insurance coverage called medical payments coverage on one’s own auto, truck, or motorcycle insurance policy. Medical payment coverage insurance pays for accident related medical expenses up to an amount that is specified in the policy, and has no deductible or co-payment. Most importantly, it is very inexpensive coverage. For example, on my own auto insurance policy, I have a $10,000 medical payment coverage policy that only costs $22.60 per year. Even if one has health insurance, medical payment coverage can also be very useful in paying co-payments or deductibles that may be incurred until the case is resolved.
This inexpensive coverage can mean the difference between getting the medical treatment that one needs following a crash or not, as well as preserving a good credit history. As many people have no idea whether they have medical payment coverage as part of their existing auto insurance policy, it is a good idea to give your auto insurance agent a call to find out—-before a car wreck happens.
If you have questions regarding what your auto insurance policy covers, give me a call for a free consultation. As an experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyer I have learned that when it comes to insurance, what you don’t know can hurt you!
For a free initial consultation contact me toll-free at (877) 897-9466 or submit the simple form on the Contact Us page.
