Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Seeing a doctor or going to the hospital costs money, though. You might wonder whether you can or should use your own health insurance to cover the cost of treating your car accident injuries.

Who Pays for Car Accident Injuries?

The costs of injuries suffered in a car accident are typically paid by the insurer of each driver responsible for the accident. Georgia is considered an “at-fault” state for car accidents. This means that a driver or passenger injured in a car crash may file a claim against the driver at fault.

State law requires every driver to have the following minimum limits of liability insurance:

• Bodily injury liability — $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident
• Property damage liability — $25,000 per incident

In Georgia, you also have the option to purchase a certain type of coverage with your car insurance policy known as MedPay. With MedPay coverage, you can look to your car insurance provider to pay for the costs of treating your car accident injuries.

Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Bills?

Typically, you can use your health insurance to cover medical bills incurred due to a car accident. However, using health insurance to treat car accident injuries may come with conditions such as co-pays and deductibles.

Your health insurer may also have the right to reimbursement for money it paid to treat your car accident injuries if you recover compensation from other sources, such as filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the driver at fault for the accident.

Who Pays First: Auto Insurance or Health Insurance?

Some health insurance policies explicitly state that they are “secondary” to any applicable car insurance coverage, which is considered “primary.” However, a “secondary” coverage clause in your health insurance policy may give your health insurer the right to reimbursement from any compensation you get from a car accident claim.

When your health insurance is considered “secondary” and you have purchased MedPay coverage, you must first look to your auto accident insurance provider to cover your medical expenses. Your health insurance will only kick in once you have exhausted the limit of your MedPay coverage.

Will I Have to Cover Any Out-of-Pocket Expenses?

If you choose to use your health insurance to cover the cost of treating your car accident injuries, you will be required to cover out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays and deductibles required by your health insurance policies. If you have MedPay coverage and have not selected a deductible, you will not need to pay out of pocket if your car insurance covers your medical bills.

Even if you do incur out-of-pocket costs, you can typically recoup those costs from an at-fault driver in a car accident claim. A Georgia car accident attorney can help you seek compensation for losses such as the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Lower quality of life

Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers Today

After you have been injured in a car accident in Georgia, contact the car accident lawyers at Geiger Legal Group, LLC for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll discuss the specifics of your accident and what options you have for recovering the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills and other expenses from the car accident.