What Can You Do If You’re Uninsured Or Unsure Who Pays For Medical Treatment?

Getting Care When You Don’t Have Health Insurance

One of the most common concerns I hear from clients is, Who pays medical bills after an accident? How am I supposed to get treatment if I don’t have health insurance? It’s a perfectly valid question, especially in Southeast Louisiana, where a large portion of our community is without health insurance. As healthcare access continues to shift, this issue isn’t going away anytime soon.

The good news? You can still get the medical care you need after an accident, even without insurance. In fact, at least half of my clients don’t have private health insurance, and I help them get the treatment they need every day.

I’ve been doing this for years. Waltzer Wiygul & Garside has intentionally built relationships with trusted providers who are willing to treat accident victims under what’s called a Letter of Protection, a legal agreement that ensures they’ll be paid when your case settles. Best of all? It requires absolutely zero out-of-pocket payment from you.

Should You Use Your Own Health Insurance?

If you have it, use it. Your private insurance or Medicare will typically cover accident-related treatment. That said, there may be a few hoops to jump through. Insurance companies often want to know if there’s another party who might be responsible, such as the at-fault driver. As such, they’ll likely send you forms asking for details of the accident. Hospitals and doctors may also hesitate to bill your insurance if they think they can get more money through a personal injury claim.

Still, using your health insurance can work in your favor. In many cases, using your insurance upfront helps you keep more money in your pocket after your case settles. This is because, if you need to reimburse them later from your settlement, it’s usually at a discounted rate.

When you come to Waltzer Wiygul & Garside, we’ll figure out what kind of coverage you have. Whether private, public, Medicare, or Medicaid, we’ll handle the communication with those companies on your behalf.

What If the Other Driver’s Insurance Isn’t Paying?

Here’s something most people don’t realize: the other driver’s insurance doesn’t pay for your treatment as you go. They only pay once your case is resolved.

This is true even if they were clearly at fault. The at-fault driver’s insurance company doesn’t approve or authorize your care. They don’t coordinate your treatment. They don’t cut checks along the way.

Similarly, in slip and fall, or other premises liability cases, for example, store managers will sometimes say, Just send us the bill. But this is a dead end. Chances are, they won’t pay for it.

So, if you’re sitting around waiting for State Farm, GEICO or WALMART to step in and cover your medical bills, you’re going to be disappointed. And worse, it could delay your recovery.

This is why we at Waltzer Wiygul & Garside rely on a combination of:

• Your own health insurance
• Medical payments coverage on your auto policy, if you have it
• Our trusted network of doctors who accept Letters of Protection

Managing Not Being Able To Afford Copays Or Deductibles

Even if you do have insurance, copays and deductibles can make it hard to get care. If you’re facing financial pressure, we can work with you and your doctors to find a solution. Some providers will delay collecting copays or waive certain fees. In some cases, we can help cover urgent out-of-pocket costs, especially when treatment can’t wait. We’ve crafted countless strategies over our 20+ years, and we use that knowledge to make sure that money doesn’t get in the way of your recovery.

How A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Access Medical Treatment Without the Financial Burden

This is where our experience really shines and makes a difference. When you hire our firm, you’re not just getting legal support; you’re getting access to a team with a system designed to get you better without financial stress. We help you navigate:

• Auto insurance, including medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage
• Private health insurance and public programs like Medicare/Medicaid
• Care through our local trusted physicians, chiropractors, orthopedic specialists, physical therapists, and more

Many of these are the same doctors who we know and trust and who we send our own families to see. These providers agree to treat our clients with the understanding that they’ll be paid once your case settles. That means you don’t pay out of pocket. In fact, our goal is always the same:

To make sure you don’t spend a single penny on medical treatment while your case is pending.