If you were hurt in a car crash, you may require ongoing medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and surgery, depending on the extent of your injuries. While you are out of work recovering and your medical expenses quickly add up, you might wonder “who pays my medical bills after a car crash?” Importantly, there are multiple avenues through which medical bills can be paid, allowing you to obtain the treatment you need before a settlement is reached.

1. The At-Fault Driver’s Auto Insurance Policy

Alaska is a strict fault-based state when it comes to car accidents. This means that the driver who was to blame for the accident is also responsible to pay medical bills after a car crash that they caused. If the at-fault party is insured, their insurance company would carry this financial responsibility. While state law requires drivers in Alaska to be insured (except in certain rural areas), an uninsured driver would be personally liable to pay a victim’s medical bills out of their own pocket.

2. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured/underinsured coverage is an optional add-on insurance that can protect you in the event you are injured by a driver who does not have insurance or their policy limits are too low. It also covers situations involving injuries caused by a hit-and-run driver. In these cases, your own insurance coverage can step in to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses.

3. Your Own Health Insurance

If no auto-specific coverage is available, or you have exceeded the policy limits, your health insurance can be used to pay medical bills after a car crash. However, it’s important to be aware that in these situations, your health insurer may later seek subrogation. This means that if you receive a settlement or are awarded compensation from the at-fault party at trial, your health insurance company would need to be repaid for the medical expenses that were covered.

4. Medicaid/Medicare

In certain situations, Medicaid or Medicare may pay for medical bills after a car accident. For instance, Medicare may apply if you are over 65 and need treatment immediately, but liability for the accident has not yet been established. Medicaid may pay if you qualify for benefits based on income and the eligibility rules. Since Medicare and Medicaid are both “secondary payers,” repayment is usually required if monetary compensation is later secured.

5. MedPay

MedPay is an optional first-party coverage that will pay medical bills after a car crash, regardless of who is at fault. It can provide immediate funds for medical care without waiting for the driver’s insurance company to accept liability or a claim to be resolved. MedPay limits can be purchased from $1,000 to $100,000 and covers 100% of medical costs up to the policy limits. It can also be used to cover high deductibles on your health insurance plan, co-pays, or co-insurance. However, MedPay is also subject to subrogation, allowing your insurance company to recover what they paid out if you receive a settlement from the at-fault party.

6. Treating on a Medical Lien

If there are delays in payment and no other options are available to pay medical bills after a car crash, you may be able to treat on a lien. This means a provider would treat you, without requiring upfront payment, with the understanding that you would be required to pay them after receiving a settlement or jury verdict. This option is common in cases where a victim does not have health insurance and insurance coverage is delayed or disputed.

7. Workers’ Compensation

If you were hurt while driving during the scope of your employment, Workers’ Compensation might cover your medical bills, regardless of who was at fault. For example, if you were making deliveries, traveling between job sites, or using a company vehicle for work purposes, Workers’ Compensation may pay for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the car crash. Notably, the rules regarding Workers’ Comp are highly nuanced. These benefits usually do not apply if you were in a car crash while commuting to or from work, using a vehicle for personal reasons, or the collision occurred outside your work hours.

Contact an Experienced Alaska Personal Injury Attorney

If you are wondering “who pays my medical bills after a car accident?” It's essential to have a personal injury attorney by your side who can help you navigate your claim. Proudly serving accident victims in Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai, Palmer, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, and other areas of Alaska, The Trial Guy, Eric Derleth, provides trusted counsel for clients facing a wide range of personal injury matters, including car accidents. Call 907-262-9164 to schedule a free consultation at our Anchorage or Soldotna office, or contact us online. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.