What to Do With Your Medical Bills

If you do things right, the medical bills should be paid out of your lump sum settlement. In most cases, you shouldn’t have your health insurance pay for your medical bills. Definitely don’t send the bills to the at-fault party’s insurance company to pay.

Is the Medical Provider Threatening to Send Your Medical Bill to Collections?

You should send what’s called a Letter of Protection. This lets the provider know that they will be paid out of any settlement proceeds and legally obligates you to pay the bill out of the settlement. It “protects” the provider, hence the name. Click on the link for a sample Letter of Protection.

Should You Submit Your Medical Bills to Health Insurance?

This depends. You will be able get a higher settlement amount if you do not have your health insurance company pay your bills. This is because of recent Missouri Supreme Court decisions and changes to our state’s tort laws. Under current law, the only thing a jury gets to see is the amount owed – not the amount billed. For example, if you had a medical bill of $10,000, health insurance normally pays around $2,000 and the rest is written off. Thus, the amount owed is $0.00. This means that’s all the jury would see. However, if you don’t have your health insurance pay the bill, the amount owed is $10,000 and the jury would get to see the full amount of the bill.

Something else to consider is your risk tolerance. If your case is weak, then you will want to submit your medical bills to your health insurance. If not, the medical providers could come after you personally if you lose your case. However, if your case is strong, then you will likely be able to recover enough through settlement or jury verdict to pay off all providers, an attorney if you have one, and walk away with a good sum for pain and suffering.

Should You Send Your Bills to the Negligent Party’s Insurance Company to Pay?

In a word, no. First, never send any bills to the at-fault party’s insurance company to pay. That’s because you want to have the ability to negotiate the medical bills later. This will leave more money in your pocket.  Second, the jury only gets to see the amount owed, so having the insurance company pay the bill actually hurts you in the long run.

The law firm of Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers are standing by to help navigate the injury process and accident claim for you. Give us a call.