Pharmacy Auto Accident Insurance Claims: What You Need To Know

Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in helping patients gain access to their medications by dealing with insurance companies and processing claims and payments. They are often the ones on the phone, enduring hold music, to ensure patients get their prescriptions. This role gives pharmacy technicians valuable experience working with payers in the complex healthcare system. They also gain intimate experience with utilization management and coverage determinations, such as drug tiers, formularies, quantity limits, prior authorization, and step therapy.

However, when it comes to auto accident insurance claims, it is the patient's auto insurance company that pays their medical bills, regardless of who caused the accident. This is known as first-party coverage, and it is mandatory for auto insurance policies in Pennsylvania to include at least $5,000 of this coverage. If the patient's injuries require extensive treatment and exceed this coverage, their personal health insurance will take over payment. If they don't have personal health insurance, their unpaid medical bills become part of their claim against the at-fault driver.

In no-fault states, you make injury claims on your own insurance first

In no-fault states, your own insurance covers your damages regardless of who caused the accident. This means that you always make injury claims on your own insurance first. These states require personal injury protection (PIP) insurance for this purpose.

In no-fault states, you can still sue another driver, but only when certain qualifications are met, which are defined by each state. In many cases, serious injury or death must occur before you can sue another driver for a car crash in a no-fault state.

In addition, property damage claims can usually be made on the other person's liability insurance.

No-fault insurance laws vary from state to state, but you'll likely get compensation for:

• Lost income (up to a certain dollar limit) if you're unable to work after an accident
• Cost of replacement services (if your injuries affect your ability to do housework or drive, for example)
• Funeral costs if someone died as a result of the accident

It's important to note that "pain and suffering" damages are typically not included in no-fault insurance claims.

If you live in a no-fault state, it's crucial to understand the specific laws and requirements regarding insurance claims and seek legal assistance if needed.

You can sue another driver if they don't have enough insurance to cover accident injuries

If you've been in a car accident, the other driver's insurance company may cover your damages. However, what if the at-fault driver doesn't have enough insurance to cover your accident injuries? In that case, you could still sue them for the remainder, but if they don't have any assets, it may not be worth it.

If you live in a no-fault state, you always make injury claims on your own insurance first. You can sue another driver only when you meet certain qualifications, which each state defines. In many cases, there needs to be serious injury or death before you sue someone else for a car crash in a no-fault state. Property damage claims can still usually be made on the other person's liability insurance.

If you live in a fault state, the other driver can be sued for damages. If you don't have insurance, you will be held personally responsible for any judgment entered against you. This means you have to pay it out of pocket. It won't matter to a judge that you don't have the money to pay it. If you're found liable for the accident, a court might decide to take the compensation from your wages or install weekly payments.

If the at-fault driver doesn't have enough insurance to cover your accident injuries, you could turn to your own underinsured motorist coverage if you have it. It can cover medical bills when the other driver doesn't have enough insurance.

If you have collision insurance, you can use it for car damage caused by someone else. The downside is that your insurance check will be reduced by your collision deductible amount. You might get that deductible amount back later if your insurance company goes after reimbursement from the other person's insurer.

If your vehicle was totalled in the accident, insurance should compensate you for the value of the car at the time of the accident, whether you're making a liability claim against someone else or using your own collision insurance.

If you have rental reimbursement coverage, you could tap that as well for a rental while your vehicle is in the repair shop for a collision claim.

If you don't have insurance, you can still be sued for damages. If you have serious injuries and medical bills, but you can't recover against anyone, an underinsurance policy will allow you to recover enough to pay what you owe and stay financially solvent.

If you have uninsured motorist coverage, it will usually cover medical expenses from a car accident regardless of who's at fault.

Collision insurance covers your car damage if you hit an object or another car

Collision insurance is a type of auto insurance that covers the cost of repairing or replacing your car if it is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object, such as a lamppost or a curb. It is important to note that collision insurance only reimburses you for damage to your car and not for damage to other vehicles or objects, or for any bodily injuries sustained in the accident.

Collision insurance is optional unless it is required for your car loan or lease. If you are leasing your vehicle or making payments, your finance company may require you to purchase collision coverage. Even if you own your vehicle outright, collision coverage is always a smart option as it can protect you from paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for car repairs or replacement in the event of an accident.

Collision insurance typically covers accidents involving objects or other cars, while comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from non-traffic events such as theft, floods, or hitting an animal. In most cases, insurers will not allow you to purchase collision coverage without comprehensive coverage, and vice versa.

If you are in an accident and your car is not totalled, collision insurance will pay to repair your car to its previous condition, minus your deductible. If your car is totalled, collision insurance will pay the actual cash value of your vehicle, minus your deductible. It is important to note that collision insurance will not cover the cost of repairs or replacements if your car is damaged but not in a collision, such as in the case of extreme weather or theft.

In addition to collision insurance, there are other types of coverage that can provide protection in the event of a car accident. Personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments (MedPay) car insurance coverage can be used to pay medical bills for treatment of car accident injuries. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) can help cover bodily injury damages and property damage caused by a hit-and-run driver or a driver with insufficient insurance. Rental vehicle coverage can also be purchased separately to cover the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.

When purchasing collision insurance, it is important to carefully review the application and policy to understand what is covered and what is excluded. It is also crucial to notify your insurance company immediately if you are involved in an accident and to provide detailed information about the loss.

You can use your own auto insurance to pay for car damage caused by someone else

If someone else causes damage to your car, you can use your own auto insurance to pay for the damage. This is known as collision insurance, which is optional unless required for your car loan or lease. This type of insurance covers damage to your car when you hit an object such as a pole or another vehicle. About 75% of drivers with auto insurance have collision insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

If you have collision insurance, you can use it to pay for car damage caused by someone else. However, there is a downside to this approach. Your insurance payout will be reduced by the amount of your collision deductible. You may be able to recover this amount later if your insurance company seeks reimbursement from the other person's insurer.

If you have rental reimbursement coverage, you can use this to pay for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.

It's important to note that auto insurance usually follows the car, not the driver. So, if you lend your car to a friend and they get into an accident, your insurance will typically be responsible for covering the damage. However, if your friend has their own insurance, their policy may act as secondary coverage if the costs exceed your policy limits.

Your health insurance will likely cover your car accident injuries

If you've been injured in a car accident, understanding your options for getting your medical care paid for can be challenging, especially if multiple insurance policies are involved. Here's what you need to know:

Your health insurance plan details will determine whether there are in-network or out-of-network distinctions for care providers or other restrictions on what's covered. Additionally, your health plan might state that your health insurance is "secondary" in the event of a car accident, meaning you would first turn to your car insurance coverage or the other driver's liability insurance to cover your injuries. If the cost of treating your car accident injuries exceeds the amount of that coverage, your health insurance would then cover the remainder of your care.

Certain types of treatment, such as alternative forms of medicine, may not be covered under your health insurance plan. Furthermore, your health insurer may have the right to reclaim any money paid for treating your car accident injuries if you receive compensation from the at-fault driver's insurer or another source.

If you don't have health insurance, it's crucial that you still seek necessary medical attention after a car accident. Hospitals and healthcare providers may be legally required to offer interest-free payment plans and discounted charges for treatment to uninsured patients, depending on your state's laws. Some healthcare providers will treat patients immediately after a car accident and postpone payment until any car insurance claim or injury lawsuit is resolved, which is often called a "medical lien."

In most cases, car accident injury bills will involve co-pays or deductibles, depending on whether you use your health insurance or car insurance. If you use your health insurance, you will typically need to pay the deductible or co-pay associated with your health plan. On the other hand, if you use your car insurance, you will need to follow the insurance company's claim submission process. Ambulance services, hospitals, and doctors' offices often do not require upfront payment from injured individuals. Instead, they will work with the patient and the insurance companies to determine who is responsible for payment.

When it comes to priority, auto insurance policies are usually the first to pay for car accident injuries. All drivers are required to have basic liability car insurance coverage, and medical bills related to car accidents are typically paid up to the at-fault driver's policy limits. However, in no-fault states, your health insurance may pay for car accident injuries first, and then they will file a claim against the car insurance company.

Frequently asked questions