What Can I Do If I Don't Have Health Insurance?

If you were injured in an accident, you may be concerned about medical bills that will start piling up. I've had some clients tell me they declined an ambulance ride because they knew they couldn't afford it. Even if you have medical insurance, there are scenarios when your co-pays and other incidental expenses can really burden you and your family. I've known some clients who've had to declare bankruptcy as the result of mounting health care bills. 

There are circumstances when you can indeed get medical care from certain doctors who are willing to work on a "lien" basis. That means the doctors will defer their payment. You have to pay them out of your personal injury settlement. However, you need to be careful that your bills don't get too high or they might exceed the true value of your case. If you have $10,000 in medical bills but your case is likely worth $5000, then you might have a problem. Also, technically speaking, you are still on the hook for the bills even if you don't recover anything from the other party. The doctors aren't working for free. Therefore, before obtaining medical care on a lien, make sure you are likely to obtain a recovery that will be sufficient to pay your bills. An experienced personal injury lawyer can guide you. Also, if your personal auto policy had Medical Payments Coverage, that might also help pay for a portion of your medical bills.  It would certainly be worth exploring this additional payment option.