In Nevada, victims of car accidents have the right to recover compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit. The settlements from these claims can help pay for critical expenses and losses related to the accident, including medical care for car accident injuries.
However, these claims can take from several weeks up to a year or longer to reach a conclusion. In the meantime, you need medical care now. In these situations, you may wonder: does health insurance cover car accident injuries?
Health Insurance Can Cover Car Accident Injuries
If you have health insurance and you are injured in a car accident, your company will typically pay for the treatment related to your collision.
However, there are a few considerations that you should be aware of before using this coverage.
- Your insurance provider may have restrictions on the types of providers that you can see. To avoid out-of-pocket costs, it is important to ensure that you are receiving in-network care.
- Some health insurance policies state that their coverage is secondary to primary insurance for car accident injuries. In these situations, you’ll need to first turn to whatever car insurance policy that you may have. If your injuries exceed the amount of coverage that you have, your health insurance will then pay for the remainder of your care.
- Your health insurance provider may not cover all of the forms of treatment that you require following the accident. It is important to review the terms of your policy beforehand.
- Depending on the terms of your policy, you may have out-of-pocket costs. You may need to pay a copay to see certain medical professionals or reach your deductible before your insurance plan will start to cover your treatment.
Your Insurance Company May Be Entitled to a Portion of Your Settlement
If you receive coverage from your health insurance to pay for car accident injuries, the company may have the right to claim a portion of your settlement. A car accident claim allows you to recover financial compensation for any past and future medical care that you need due to your injuries.
Nevada has subrogation laws that allow insurance companies to recover the money that they have paid to their policyholders for damages that are covered by the settlement. However, insurance companies cannot engage in subrogation until the policyholder has been fully reimbursed for his or her losses. Additionally, health insurance companies will usually need to have a reimbursement clause in their policies to initiate these proceedings.
For example, say that you’re walking down the street when another vehicle crashes into you. Your health insurance coverage pays for $20,000 worth of medical bills. The at-fault driver’s insurance coverage has a $25,000 bodily injury liability limit, allowing you to recover the full $20,000 for your medical care. Your insurance policy has a reimbursement clause, so it files a claim against you to recover the $20,000 it had already paid.
Paying for Medical Care after a Nevada Car Accident
It can be difficult to navigate the aftermath of a car accident, especially when it comes to receiving medical care. If you are concerned about how to pay for the treatment that you require following a collision, contact a top-rated Las Vegas car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Your Las Vegas personal injury lawyer will help you understand the pathways available to you and take your first steps toward filing a claim for compensation.