Surprise Medical Billing May Finally Be Ending

It is no secret that suffering a personal injury can be incredibly expensive, even for the insured. When you are the victim of a car accident, you may not be in a frame of mind to choose a hospital within the network of your insurance, or you may not be able to choose which covered treatments you receive. This is a horrific thing to have to worry about especially on top of whatever traumatic injury you have sustained.

The good news is there is new legislation in the works that can help these costs. The bad news is it may take a while.

Congress is working on a new bill named after the coronavirus intending to mitigate the expensive “surprise” medical costs many Americans find themselves facing. The main point of the legislation is it limits what patients can be charged for out-of-network services, potentially saving patients tens of thousands of dollars. It forces insurers and service providers to settle disputes amongst themselves with an independent resolution process, which allows patients to focus more on recovery than worrying about how they will pay for it.

Other important parts of this bill will likely alleviate patient stress and keep hands out of the pockets of thousands of citizens. For example, aside from limiting those out-of-network charges, it also requires service providers to notify patients of what those costs may be 72 hours in advance, and those patients will not receive a bill until and unless they agree. Additionally, if a patient is admitted to an in-network hospital but an out-of-network provider is called in to assist (such as for a surgical procedure), this legislation would protect them from any surprise charges that would normally be incurred.

On a slightly smaller scale, the bill will also prevent air ambulance services from charging patients for more than the in-network amount. However, ground ambulance services are exempt from this change.

While these changes are all necessary and positive for anyone who might find themselves needing out-of-network emergency medical care, they will not happen instantly. In fact, this legislation does not go into effect at all until 2022. So what about in the meantime? How can you battle the steep costs of being injured or sick?

Protecting your rights if you suffer an injury because of negligence

If you find yourself the victim of a personal injury you want to act as quickly as possible. Lawsuits can seem daunting, but they exist to protect you and your rights from institutions that do not have your best interests in mind. Your Huntsville personal injury lawyer will work with you and on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve depending on the circumstances of your case.

Recovering damages via a personal injury claim is the best way to get reimbursement for necessary, expensive medical bills. Once successful, you could receive compensation for:

• Any medical costs incurred during or after the treatment of your injury, from surgery to physical therapy
• Disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life (in certain severe circumstances)
• Lost wages for time off from work for recovery
• Additional losses depending on the specifics of your case

The negligence of someone else should not financially ruin your life. All you should be worried about is recovering and taking all the time you need to rest and receive treatment.

Do not wait. If you are the victim of an injury of any sort, the Huntsville personal injury lawyers at Martin & Helms, PC are ready to fight for your compensation. We will work tirelessly to win you the highest amount possible with years of compassionate experience on our side. Not only do we have offices in both Huntsville and Decatur, we also proudly serve Madison, Athens, and all of North Alabama, and we are also happy to offer virtual consultations for your safety during this pandemic. To learn more about how we can save you time, stress, and money after your traumatic accident, call us today at 256-539-1990 or fill out our contact form. Let us do the hard work.