Guide
How to pay medical bills after an accident
Medical bills can arrive long before an injury case settles. Here are the main ways people cover treatment after an accident, and how treatment on a lien works.
Your options
Health insurance
You can use your health insurance for accident-related care. Expect deductibles and copays, and some treatment needs pre-authorization before you can be seen. Your insurer may also ask to be repaid from your settlement.
Auto insurance medical coverage
Many auto policies include medical payments coverage (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP), which can pay some medical bills regardless of who caused the accident. What's available depends on your state and your policy.
The at-fault driver's insurance
If someone else caused the accident, their insurance usually doesn't pay your bills as they come in. It typically pays once, as part of a settlement, which can take months or longer.
Treatment on a medical lien
With a lien, your provider treats you now and is paid out of your settlement when the case resolves. You pay nothing up front. This option is common when you're uninsured or underinsured, or when waiting on insurance would delay your care.
How treatment on a lien works
- You're injured in an accident and have a personal injury case.
- A provider agrees to treat you on a lien, so you pay nothing up front.
- You get the care you need while your case moves forward.
- When your case settles, the provider's bill is paid out of the settlement.
How Medical Cash Flow Solutions helps
Every provider in our network treats on a lien that is paid out of the settlement. If you've been in an accident and have a personal injury case, our providers can treat you right away, without waiting on pre-authorizations. They also treat people who are underinsured or uninsured.
We work with patients, providers and attorneys in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Nevada.
This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.