Health Insurance Cover if You Involved in a Car Accident
Many people wonder if their health plan will cover car accident medical bills. In general, the answer is yes—you can take advantage of a health insurance plan to cover your medical bills. However, your medical coverage typically only kicks in after you exhaust the coverage limits of your auto accident policies.
You will need to submit all of the necessary claims to your insurance company before you can activate your health coverage, starting with your personal injury protection (PIP) policy.
Covering Your Medical Costs After a Collision
Florida is a no-fault state. This means that you will look to your own insurance company first when it comes to who pays the medical bills in a car accident. State law requires all Florida drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage as part of their auto insurance. PIP is used to cover your own injuries and lost wages in the event of an accident, irrespective of who caused the collision.
If You Were Responsible For Causing Injury PIP Help To Cover The Cost
Even if you were responsible for causing the injuries or damages you suffered in an accident, your PIP can help cover the cost. PIP was designed to reduce the litigation burden on the courts and give accident victims quick access to funds after an accident.
PIP Cover 80% of Qualifying Medical Bills & 60% Lost Wages
However, the amount of compensation you receive from your PIP policy is subject to regulation, and the level of coverage you purchase. According to Florida law, PIP only covers up to 80% of qualifying medical bills and 60% of your lost wages. This means you may need to seek coverage from other avenues to handle all of your damages after an accident.
Other Types of Insurance That May Apply Toward Your Injuries
Once you exhaust your PIP coverage, you can turn to other types of car insurance, followed by your health insurance. While these other auto policies are not mandatory, many drivers choose to purchase the following coverage:
- Uninsured motorist insurance: This coverage applies when you get into an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, and after a hit-and-run. It can apply to your medical expenses or vehicle damages.
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: In the event that you suffer dismemberment in an accident, this coverage may also apply. Note that dismemberment can also qualify you to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in Florida.
- Medical payment insurance: This is additional coverage for medical bills beyond your PIP coverage. Like PIP, it can cover you and your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident.
If you are wondering whether you need medical payment coverage if you have health insurance, the answer is no. However, it might be a good idea to purchase it if you want to insure yourself up to a higher limit.
Using Your Health Insurance to Cover Car Accident Injuries
Health insurance is the last resort for injury coverage, and it will likely have policy limits you will be unable to exceed unless you purchase additional coverage. After you have exhausted all of your other policies, your health insurance can kick in to cover any remaining medical expenses you face.
When you elect to use your health coverage, it is important to remember that you will still be responsible for paying any co-pays or deductibles that your plan requires.
Contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato Today
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato are just a call away. Our team can help you file a personal injury claim if you suffered an accident and are looking for compensation for your losses and injuries. We can also explain how the various insurance policies you have may cover your damages. Do not hesitate to reach out and contact us today for a free and confidential consultation at (954) 633-8270.
