If you were injured in an accident, your main priority needs to be getting the medical care you need. Even if you don’t have private medical insurance, you should still see a doctor. Failing to do so can jeopardize your claim and financial future. It’s best to receive a proper diagnosis and begin medical treatment. Doing so can also help connect your injuries to the accident and show you are serious about your health, which strengthens your claim.
You may have various options. A San Antonio accident attorney can help identify them and talk about the pros and cons.
Use Your Auto Insurance
Even if you don’t have health insurance, you could have auto insurance that can help pay some of your medical bills, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay. In Texas, auto insurance providers must offer PIP insurance, at a minimum of $2,500 per injured person. You can elect higher limits, though. This insurance helps cover medical bills, lost income, and other specified expenses, up to the policy limits.
Although you’re not legally required to have PIP to legally operate your vehicle in Texas, the insurance company must offer it to you, and you must deny it in writing. PIP insurance is no-fault insurance, so it provides coverage regardless of whether you or the other driver was at fault.
PIP insurance also applies if you are injured as a passenger riding in someone else’s vehicle, as a pedestrian, or as a cyclist.
If you declined PIP coverage, the insurance company may have offered you medical payments coverage. This is also a no-fault insurance policy that covers medical bills following a car accident. The primary difference between MedPay and PIP insurance is that MedPay only covers medical expenses, whereas PIP also covers lost wages and other related costs. Additionally, the amount offered may be much lower. Additionally, if you later recover compensation through an insurance settlement or award, your insurance company may be entitled to reimbursement for the amount of money they already paid you.
Use Someone Else’s Auto Insurance
Even if you don’t have your own PIP insurance, you may be covered under someone else’s policy. PIP insurance generally covers:
- Household family members
- People authorized to drive the car
- Passengers riding in the insured vehicle
Take Advantage of Free or Reduced Healthcare Options
If you don’t have regular health insurance, you may qualify for state assistance, be able to use a free or reduced clinic, or use a sliding fee scale that can make medical treatment more affordable.
Wait for Your Car Accident Settlement
Since Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents, you may be able to get your medical bills covered by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider. However, this can take months or longer, depending on the circumstances. You should also work with a personal injury lawyer since the insurance company will likely try to deny your claim, blame you for the accident, claim that medical services were not necessary, or use other tactics to devalue your claim.
Some doctors will accept patients on a “treat now, pay later” agreement. Under this agreement, the healthcare provider offers services now and then receives payment from your settlement.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Options
If you’ve been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, the main priority is getting the medical treatment you need. An experienced San Antonio pedestrian accident attorney can help identify and explore all of your options and may even be able to connect you to medical providers who will provide care upfront and accept payment down the line. You can learn more by calling George Salinas Injury Lawyers at 210-225-0909 and requesting a free consultation.