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5 Ways To Manage Medical Bills Following A Personal Injury 

By  Dan McCrary | March 30, 2024

Hospital bills can be overwhelming, especially in cases of injury and when hospitalization is required. But don’t worry, because as legal experts, we’ll explain how to deal with medical bills after a personal injury case. 

When your injury is caused by someone else’s in an at-fault state, you have the option to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. However, it’s a time-consuming process, and compensation will not be granted until you prove the claim. 

Alternatively, in no-fault states, your medical bills may be covered by your insurance provider rather than the at-fault party. We’ll break down these options for you below, so keep reading to find the answers you need!

Who’ll Pay For The Medical Bills In Personal Injury Case?

There are two things to keep in mind when considering who’ll pay for the medical bills in personal injury cases: fault or no-fault state laws. You’ve got to find out which law works in your state. 

If your state is a no-fault state, then the parties who are injured can file for compensation from their insurance company. Then, the insurance company will pay the medical bills and the loss, not the person who caused the accident. 

Currently, there are only twelve no-fault states in the USA, and if you don’t live there, the rule of at-fault will be applicable. In this scenario, the person who caused the accident will pay for your personal injury, medical bills and overall loss.

However, you must file a personal injury claim first to prove that the other party is responsible for your injury. This entire process usually takes up to 12 months, which means you’ve to pay for your medical bills yourself, and then after some time, you’ll get the compensation.

5 Ways To Deal with Medical Bills After A Personal Injury

Since California is an at-fault state, you must pay for your medical expenses yourself; the steps you can take to do this are below. So, let’s get into the details! 

1. Health Insurance 

The first option to deal with medical bills after a personal injury is to use health insurance. Keep in mind that health insurance is mandatory by law in most states, including California. People who don’t have health insurance have to pay the penalty. 

Therefore, if you live in California, the chances are you must have health insurance. In this case, you need to contact the insurance company, and they’ll pay your medical bills for your injury case.

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2. Payment Plan 

The next option you’ve is to ask for a payment plan. It simply means that you can’t afford lump sum payments of medical bills and want to pay in installments. This is the best way as you can make monthly payments over a set period.

However, it’s important to note that not all hospitals offer this, and the ones that offer might have high interest rates. So be sure to check the terms on the payment plan agreement, as well as the interest rate. If you find the terms unfavorable, don’t hesitate to negotiate.

3. Medicaid 

Like many other states, California offers a Medicaid program to help residents who struggle with medical bills. Remember, not everyone qualifies for the program, because the government has established specific criteria for eligibility. Here are the key points:

  • Income Criteria: The yearly income of the household must fall below the following amount:
    • $19,392 for one people 
    • $26,228 for two people 
    • $33,064 for three people 
    • $39,900 for four people
    • $46,737 for five people 
    • $53,573 for six people
    • $60,409 for seven people
    • $67,245 for eight people 
  • General Criteria: You can read about the general criteria below, these are the people who are eligible for Medicaid program: 
    • Older people age 65 or old
    • Pregnant women 
    • A person who’s disabled or has a family member with a disability 
    • Someone responsible for 21 years old or younger child

4. Getting Some Help 

In case you don’t have an insurance plan, can’t pay the installments, or are also not eligible for Medicaid, the only thing left is the help from family or friends. 

You can contact your family members or friends and ask for help paying the bills. 

5. Paying Bills With A Loan 

The last option to deal with medical bills for personal injury cases is getting medical loans. However, these loans come with high interest rates.

So carefully review the terms and conditions to ensure they are the right choice for you.

Final Words

Since you now have the option to pay the medical bills after a personal injury, don't overlook the importance of filing a personal injury claim. This can cover your installment payments or repay the loan if the case concludes favorably in the coming months.

In short, the sooner you hire a lawyer for the case, the better. You can schedule a complimentary consultation with McCrary law firm's personal injury lawyer. We do not charge for initial consultations, so don't hesitate to reach out.

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    McCrary Accident Injury Law Firm specializes in personal injury litigation. Its founder, Dan McCrary, Esq., spent 14 years working for the insurance companies before switching sides to represent personal injury victims in Rocklin as an attorney.

    Dan McCrary’s years of experience on the defense side taught him exactly how to obtain maximum recovery for his injured clients. If you have been injured in an accident you should contact the Accident & Injury Lawyers, Personal injury Attorney, Car accident lawyers at McCrary Accident Injury Law Firm in Rocklin, folsom, Sacramento to get the money you deserve, and overcome the tactics routinely employed by the insurance companies.