When you receive an insurance settlement from an auto accide

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:33 am Post Subject:

I'm confused.... you were paid for the medical providers bill and you are not addressing that bill? When you sought treatment with the medical provider did you sign a form stating you'd pay the bill? It sounds like this medical provider is not part of the health carriers network. If this is correct then they are not obligated to bill your health carrier.

Have you submitted the medical providers bill to your health carrier? This would probably be fraud as you've already been paid for that bill so you cannot ask your health carrier to pay it.

What info would your auto carrier provide to the medical provider? If the medical provider sent a bill to the auto carrier or asked them to pay the bill the auto carrier would need to let them know that the claim was already settled. Regardless of what else was said, at that point the medical provider would still look to you to pay their bill.

Here is the thing... as mentioned, _you_ were given the money to pay that bill. It sounds like now you want to keep that money. If that works, great. My recommendation is to tell the medical provider that you got very little from the auto carrier and negotiate with the medical provider for a lower bill. They are not obligated to do this but if they turn it over to collections they are only going to get pennies on the dollar anyway. They might as well take pennies on the dollar from you.

I'd not recommend ignoring them. If they turn it over to a collections company this could impact your credit history. They could also hire an attorney and file suit against you. The paperwork you signed -may_ then allow them to tack on the attorneys fees to what you own.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:50 am Post Subject:

I was not paid specifically for that bill. I submitted a spreadsheet to the insured and listed all insurance covered expenses and out of pocket expenses. In my settlement offer they gave me a specific amount for out of pocket medical but did not specify who or what was reimbursed.Out of pocket is being used for future bills too. I have a letter from the insurance company that states they did not pay the doctor directly and am thinking about sending that into my health insurance provider so they can process the claim as the secondary insurance. I have advised them that I will reimburse them for their out of pocket expenses then.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:50 am Post Subject:

I was not paid specifically for that bill. I submitted a spreadsheet to the insured and listed all insurance covered expenses and out of pocket expenses. In my settlement offer they gave me a specific amount for out of pocket medical but did not specify who or what was reimbursed.Out of pocket is being used for future bills too. I have a letter from the insurance company that states they did not pay the doctor directly and am thinking about sending that into my health insurance provider so they can process the claim as the secondary insurance. I have advised them that I will reimburse them for their out of pocket expenses then.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 12:57 am Post Subject:

Read the release that you signed. It states that you are responsible for all bills, past and future.

If your health carrier were to pay the bill they should have been able to recovery from the at fault party. In that you signed a release means that you no longer allowed them the ability to to collect. Also, when you settled the claim what do you think that amount was for? You knew about the medical bills.. you knew the auto carrier was settling with you and making you responsible for all outstanding bills... yet, you don't know if this compensation was "specifically" for that one bill? You can try to sell that... but no one is going to be buying.

You can submit it to your health carrier. They may simply pay it and that will be that. Your state may even allow you to double dip (some do) so they may have a legal obligation to pay the bill.