Who Pays Medical Bills in a Car Accident in New York?
You’ve been injured in an auto accident in New York, and you know you need medical care. However, you’re not sure how to pay for it. Fortunately, you don’t have to scrounge up money for medical care. New York is a no-fault insurance state, so your no-fault coverage will cover your medical bills up to certain limits.
Read on to learn more, there are a few things you need to know about no-fault coverage and medical bills.
Filing a No-fault Claim
You have 30 days after the automobile accident to file a no-fault claim with the insurance company. If you were a passenger or driver of a vehicle in the accident, you’d submit the claim with the insurance company that covers the vehicle. If you were a pedestrian, you need to file the claim with the driver’s insurance company.
Your Claim Number
When you file a no-fault insurance claim, the insurance adjuster will give you a claim number. You will provide your doctor with this claim number when getting medical services. Then, the billing department will send the bills to the insurance company instead of you.
What if you received medical care before you got a claim number? You’ll receive bills from the facility, but don’t worry. Contact the billing department with the claim number. The department will then send medical bills to the insurance company instead of you. The medical facility will handle the reimbursement, so you can focus on getting well.
Coverage Limits
Basic no-fault insurance pays up to $50,000 worth of expenses. Sometimes, that isn’t enough to pay for all of your medical bills. Don’t worry, though. You still shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for medical care, even if you hit the limit for your no-fault coverage.
First, you can try to get additional personal injury protection to cover your medical bills. If you can’t get it or don’t want to do so, you can use your regular health insurance to pay for the bills. Then, you will have the same copays or coinsurance as normal.
You can also make a claim against the other driver. Many people choose to go that route, especially if they have serious injuries that will require months or years of treatment. If you file a successful claim, you can use that money to cover your medical treatment.
Other Expenses Related to Medical Care
No-fault insurance also pays for certain expenses related to medical care, such as travel expenses as you go back and forth to doctors’ appointments. You can also use your no-fault insurance to pay for medications and other medically necessary items you need to heal from your car accident injuries.
Don’t Let Money Stop You From Seeking Medical Treatment
You might be afraid of expensive medical bills if you’ve been in a car accident, but you don’t need to be. Instead, use your no-fault insurance coverage to pay for treatment. You can consult a car accident injury doctor and specialists at a multi-specialty medical clinic in Brooklyn without worrying about medical bills.
Our medical staff is experienced in treating car accident-related injuries and includes the following medical specialists: orthopedics, neurology, pain management, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and more. We accept no-fault insurance, workers’ compensation, medical liens, and major medical plans.
NEW: Telemedicine Appointments are now available, call (718) 769-2521 to schedule a consultation in the comfort of your home.