by Rasc170 » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:15 pm
I was a passenger in the vehicle that was rear ended by a garbage truck in California. We have been going to the chiro for about 2 months now and I have run into a problem. The medpay cap is at $2,000, which we already used. The chiro tells me that I should still keep coming in, because the higher the care bill, the higher the settlement I will get. I am not sure if this is the best idea, because I dont want to give the chiro more money from my settlement than is necessary. Can anyone give me some advice on this?
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:22 am Post Subject:
Not sure if the chiro used those terms but if he/she did, then they give good doctors a bad name. That statement implies that they are not treating you because you will benefit medically from it, rather, only because it's lining their pockets with insurance company money. Then they will want to complain about the insurance rates in CA being so high.
Basically what they are saying would be correct... to a certain extent. A good adjuster will recognize over-treatment, especially from a chiropractor. If the injuries appear minor and the treatment goes on for a long time, i.e. it's _easy_ to see over treatment, then the adjuster might offer little more then what the medical bills amount to. But in any case, the injured person or their attorney can get the doctor to cut his bills (many times in 1/2).
Again, what the quack told you is almost always correct.
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 05:48 am Post Subject:
Tcope has mentioned it quite correctly....an experienced adjuster is likely to identify an overtreatment. However, prolonged treatment implies more medical bills and thus more towards settlement.....the mathematics is absolutely correct, but I think its wrong squeeze the insurer for more than what's due, because it'll also affect your future premium rates.
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 06:01 am Post Subject:
This is typically unprofessional of a chiropractor if he had said that you'll receive higher settlement amount by extending you visit to him/her. You can file a complaint against him/her with the proper authority. Also you can check with your insurer, if they have any previous complain filed against the chiro.
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 09:40 am Post Subject:
Yes, Paul you will be due an injury settlement...However, don't let the chiropractor have it all! If you think you need to go, then go, but go like you were paying the bill yourself..I might add that overtreatment many many times (atleast at the company I'm with) is not paid..
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 07:27 pm Post Subject:
I think I am 85-90 percent back to normal. The most I would want to do is go back maybe a few more weeks and I think that should take care of it. But then again, I dont want to pay him from my settlement and essentially get less than what I am going to get if I had stopped treatment. I have friends who are chiros. and they would be willing to treat me for substanially less than what my current chiro charges.
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:42 am Post Subject:
Well dude why didn't you go to your friends to begin with? Might tick them off some that you went to another.....friend chiros I'd have alot more confidence in than someone i didn't know
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 09:11 pm Post Subject:
If the treatments are not excessive and I don't see that they are, then additional treatment will usually be paid for by the carrier and will also increase the amount paid to you. Also, keep in mind that you can also ask your medical providers to lower their bills and many times you can get them to reduce them up to 50%.
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 05:15 pm Post Subject:
Lori sad it best ...
If you think you need to go, then go, but go like you were paying the bill yourself
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:25 am Post Subject:
"why didn't you go to your friends to begin with?"
The reason I didn't go to my friend intially is because they live about 25 miles away from me. The other people that were in the car with me when the accident occured all went to the chiro I currently have, so it was just convenient. Since I am ALMOST back to my original condition, I am willing to drive the distance to get treated by my buddy, rather than pay the chiro a huge sum of money. I know I dont want to get overtreated and just go for the sake of going, but on the other hand I dont want to give him the money I would get from my settlement. For Example, if I stop going to him right now and for arguments sake say I would get $5,000 which I would get to keep. If I keep getting treated I might get $6,000, but would have to pay the chiro $2,000, with $4,000 being what I would keep. So I would like to know would it be better if I stopped going and get treated by a friend or would it make sense financially to keep getting treated by the chiro I have now? I appreciate the input because this is the first time I have been injured in a car accident and it is all foreign to me. Thanks!
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