How PIP And Health Insurance Works After A Car Accident
Posted on: 28 July 2017
Getting into an automobile accident can be scary, especially is there is substantial damage to your vehicle or you have been injured. If the accident involved another vehicle, there is also the chance that people in that car were injured as well. If the injuries are severe, a trip to the emergency room is usually necessary. While nobody likes to talk about these kinds of scenarios, it's good to know what is covered by your auto and health insurance.
What PIP Covers
PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection and is offered by most auto insurance companies. Having this type of coverage means that your auto insurer will pay for medical expenses that were incurred as a result of getting injured in an automobile accident. PIP can also pay for lost wages if you were unable to work due to getting injured, and funeral expenses in case of death. These things are covered regardless of who is at fault for the accident. PIP is required in 12 states and optional in states where it's not mandatory.
What Health Insurance Covers
If you do have PIP but you don't have enough to cover all of your medical-related expenses, your health insurance can provide some coverage. This is usually the case when the amount of your medical expenses exceeds what PIP covers. However, before your health insurance kicks in, they must receive proof that your PIP coverage has been exhausted. If your health insurance company does not know that your PIP benefits have been exhausted, they have the right to deny any claims that are associated with your car accident.
If your auto insurance agent does not supply your health insurer with a PIP exhaustion letter, you can do this yourself. Simply call your auto insurance agent to request this letter and fax a copy to your health insurance. Upon receiving this letter, your health insurance provider should process your claims.
How an Automobile Accident Injury Attorney Can Help
If your injuries will have long-term repercussions, and if you are having trouble getting your insurance agent to send you or your insurance company the PIP exhaust letter, you may have to contact an automobile accident injury attorney for help. If neither your auto insurance nor your health insurance is paying on any of your medical claims, an attorney can help with this as well.
When hiring an automobile accident injury attorney, you will have to pay the court costs, along with a contingency fee.
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