Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries?

After a crash, safety and health are priorities. You may receive emergency care and head straight to the hospital, or receive an evaluation and treatment plan once you visit a doctor’s office. You are typically responsible for your usual copays; the doctor’s office will bill your health insurance for all other medical bills.

Not submitting medical bills through your health insurance can further complicate the claim process. An experienced South Carolina car accident attorney can help you navigate this complex process after a crash.

Seeking Healthcare After a Car Accident in South Carolina

It’s always best to seek medical care as soon as possible after an accident. In some cases, this may mean that you or someone else calls 911 for emergency treatment. If you do not receive emergency care at the scene, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Why should you get medical treatment as soon as possible after a crash?

Prompt treatment creates a full, clear record of your injuries.
Early intervention typically leads to better health outcomes.
Early documentation prevents insurers from claiming something else caused your injuries between the time of the accident and when you sought medical care.

Waiting to see a doctor can complicate your injuries, making recovery harder. It can also blur the lines between conditions caused by the crash and conditions you developed afterward. It can be harder to get compensation when you cannot prove that an issue resulted from the collision. Insurance companies will try to blame your injuries on something other than the accident if you wait too long to seek treatment.

There are benefits to having your healthcare provider bill your health insurance immediately after a crash. For example, health insurers often negotiate discounts with providers, lowering your total medical bill. Health insurance will also process your claims as they appear in their system, which you can generally check through their mobile app or call them directly to know the status of a claim.

Most health insurance policies have a subrogation clause, which allows them to seek reimbursement for the paid medical bills from a third party: the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company. Your health insurer will cover your treatment (minus any copays or deductibles), but by law, they have a right to be repaid from any recovery you obtain against the at‑fault driver (S.C. Code § 38‑71‑190).

What’s An Insurance Lien?

Many people have their health insurer cover their car accident injuries, only to later learn there is a “lien” against their auto accident claim. A lien is a legal claim for repayment of a debt. After an accident, a health insurer may use a lien to say, “Hey, somebody owes us for these medical bills we already paid.”

A health insurance company can file a lien against your injury case claim because of the subrogation clause. Subrogation is the legal right of an insurance company to request reimbursement after it has paid a covered claim.

When your injury claim reaches a settlement or judgment, the lien is paid out of the settlement funds. An experienced attorney can usually negotiate this amount to a favorable number. You must pay off your existing medical liens before receiving your recovery award.

How To Navigate Auto and Health Insurance After a Crash

Navigating auto and health insurance can be confusing in the best circumstances. After a car accident, when you’re struggling with serious injuries and auto damage, dealing with insurance can feel overwhelming.

The best way to deal with insurance companies after an auto accident is to work with an experienced South Carolina auto accident insurance attorney. Your lawyer understands how insurance liens should progress. A knowledgeable lawyer and law firm can ensure that you receive the full, fair compensation you need – and that you won’t be surprised by unexpected health care bills later.

What If I Don’t Have Health Insurance?

Even if you have no health insurance, you may still have options for covering your medical bills after a crash.

Auto insurance policies typically include some coverage for “bodily injury.” This coverage applies to injuries that another driver inflicts on you in a crash. If your auto policy includes Medical Payments (MedPay), you can use that coverage for immediate treatment costs, and by law, it cannot be repaid or deducted from your eventual recovery (S.C. Code § 38‑77‑144). MedPay typically costs $5–$10 per month for up to $5,000 of coverage.

Medicare and Medicaid will also cover the costs of medical treatment after a car accident. Both programs provide coverage no matter who was at fault. However, both Medicare and Medicaid have eligibility requirements.