A common question we hear is why someone would need to hire a personal injury attorney if they have health insurance. This question naturally arises if you have been in an accident but your injuries don’t seem very serious. However, you could suddenly find yourself with thousands of dollars in uncovered expenses if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you initially thought. Understanding what your health insurance will and will not cover is critical to deciding whether or not you should hire an attorney.
What Your Health Insurance Will Cover
It probably goes without saying, but health insurance only covers your medical expenses. You should also keep in mind that it may not cover all of your expenses – you need to understand how your deductible works, what co-pays you will be responsible for, and what treatments will be covered.
What Your Health Insurance Will Not Cover
If you’ve been in an accident, you could be facing many unplanned expenses caused by your injuries. Health insurance will not cover the following losses:
- Uncovered medical expenses such as your deductible and copays
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
These losses that aren’t covered by your health insurance could potentially add up to thousands of dollars. If you’ve suffered a serious injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should at least speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to see if pursuing a personal injury claim makes sense.
Uncovered Medical Expenses
While some people have health insurance plans that don’t carry expensive deductibles, many of us aren’t so lucky. You may be facing a deductible of $2,500 or more in order to get the medical treatment you need to recover. In addition, copays of $20 or more can add up over time if you need to make multiple visits. If you pursue a personal injury claim, you may be able to recover compensation for any out-of-pocket medical expenses you incur.
Lost Wages
Your health insurance will not cover any income you lost if you missed work as a result of your accident. Whether you are paid hourly or on salary, you can seek compensation for your lost income through a personal injury claim. This can include a handful of hours that you missed to go to doctor’s appointments or physical therapy, as well as long-term absences because you were unable to work.
If you have disability coverage, you also need to understand what that will and won’t cover, similar to health insurance. Most disability insurance will not cover all of your lost income. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand exactly what your disability coverage will cover so that you can determine whether you will be able to pay your bills.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to your medical expenses and lost income, you may also be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. This can be a complex calculation, and insurance companies will almost always try to low-ball this portion of your claim. However, you are entitled to be compensated for the following:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Mental anguish
- Emotional trauma
- PTSD, anxiety, and depression
- Loss of consortium – negative effects or your family or other relationships
Slappey & Sadd – Georgia Personal Injury Attorneys Helping Accident Victims Get the Compensation They Deserve
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence – you are entitled to be made whole. Let us help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Slappey & Sadd at 404-255-6677 to speak with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys. We can evaluate your case, explain your options, and help you make the right decision for you and your family.