Where Can I Find Medical Attention
It is essential to seek early treatment for your injuries. A delay between your accident and your treatment could prevent proper reimbursement to you for the injuries you have sustained and the costs you have incurred as a result of your accident.
If you are insured with a PPO
If you have been injured in a collision and are insured with a PPO, check your policy and your provider list. Most PPOs will pay for your emergency hospital visit, regardless of the hospital's inclusion on their list. Depending on your injury, select a specialist from their list of providers and the PPO will pay the doctor, with a minimal office charge paid by you. Some PPOs will pay a lower percentage of "out of network" doctors and chiropractors. Call your PPO and understand your options.
Many PPOs will ask you to sign a "right of reimbursement" or "subrogation agreement" because you were involved in a collision. Do not sign this agreement unless you have consulted an attorney. These agreements are usually unenforceable, but could severely reduce your net recovery. Basically, these agreements allow your PPO or HMO to recover the cost of your treatment from the at fault insurer. This may sound fair, but have you thought of the fact that you paid premiums to the PPO or HMO? Let's say that you were injured by a driver with $15,000 in policy limits and had $10,000 in PPO bills. If you sign the agreement, and it is enforceable, you would receive $5,000 and your PPO would receive $10,000. If you don't sign it, you receive the $15,000 in full, thus covering your medical bills.
If you are insured with a HMO
If you are injured in a collision and are insured with an HMO, your emergency room visit should be covered. To follow up on your treatment, contact the HMO, who will set you up with your "gatekeeper" doctor. This doctor will examine you and determine your need for a specialist.
HMOs are notorious for not providing hands-on care. Keep in mind that your comfort and peace of mind are key. If you feel that you are not receiving the treatment you need, pick out a doctor that you are comfortable with, and pay that doctor out of the proceeds of your settlement.
If you have Medpay in your automobile policy
If you are injured in a collision and have medpay coverage on your automobile policy, you are entitled to have all of your treatment paid for, regardless of the medical provider, up to the limit of your medpay coverage. Check your policy for your limits. As with PPOs and HMOs, do not sign any "right of reimbursement" or "subrogation agreement" without consulting an attorney.
If you do not have any medical coverage
If you have been injured in a collision and do not have any medical coverage, you have three choices: you can pay up-front for your treatment; make an arrangement with the doctor to pay him when you receive your settlement; or retain an attorney who will set up an appointment for you with a doctor who will work on a lien.
Our firm has worked with many doctors and chiropractors on a lien basis. Our clients pay nothing up-front for their treatment and the doctors are paid at the time of settlement.
Please visit our Success Page to see the additional value our offices can bring to your claim.
Please, let us help you with a FREE case review to determine the extent of your injuries and claim. Simply contact us by either submitting the online form to the right, or clicking on "live help", or calling us toll free at 1-800-CALL-KEN (1-800-225-5536)
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