After being involved in a car accident, it’s crucial to prioritize your health and seek necessary medical treatment. If you’ve been referred to physical therapy or chiropractor treatment, it’s important to ensure that the provider accepts your private health insurance. Here’s what you need to know about managing medical expenses in Massachusetts:
1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage:
- Most people in Massachusetts elect to have PIP coverage as part of their car insurance policy.
- PIP coverage can pay up to $8,000 in medical expenses if you have MassHealth, Medicare, or private health insurance that is an ERISA plan.
2. Exceeding PIP Coverage:
- If your medical bills exceed the $8,000 PIP coverage limit, your state funded health insurance may kick in to pay the remaining bills.
- However, if you have private health insurance that is not an ERISA plan, the PIP coverage limit may be $2,000 for medical expenses.
- If you treat at a facility that accepts your private health insurance, the bills will be paid by your health insurance, minus deductible and co-pays, which will then be sent back to PIP for payment.
3. Treatment Facility Selection:
- If your PIP coverage is exhausted and you decide to treat at a facility that doesn’t accept your health insurance, there may be a balance left to be paid out of the settlement.
- It’s important to choose a treatment facility that accepts your health insurance to avoid dealing with a provider balance to be paid out of the settlement.
Action Steps:
- Download our list of local physical therapy and chiropractic facilities.
- Take the time to call each facility to confirm whether they accept your health insurance before scheduling a consultation.
- This simple step can help you avoid unexpected expenses and ensure smoother handling of your medical bills during settlement negotiations.
At Silva Santos, PC, we prioritize our clients’ well-being and strive to provide comprehensive support throughout the legal process. If you have any questions or need assistance navigating your medical expenses after an accident, please don’t hesitate to call us today at (774) 297-7311, send us your case information via our online form, or send us an email at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation.