Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room: hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay?

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Slowtwitch Forums: Lavender Room:
hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay?

el fuser

Jun 4, 06 17:45

Post #1 of 5 (186 views)

hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay?	Can't Post

I have a friend that was in a car accident, doesn't have uninsured motorist coverage, and the doctor said he wouldn't file the claim with the HMO since it was a car wreck. So she had to pay, then file the claim herself.

I don't carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage because I always assumed that my health insurance (HMO) would pay my hosipital bills in the event of an accident.

Not true? Or does it vary by state & policy?

peter826

Jun 4, 06 18:08

Post #2 of 5 (179 views)

Re: hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay? [maybourne] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Probably depends on the policy? I found out the hard way that my health care plan didn't cover routine immunizations. You'd be surprised what they eliminate to save a few bucks.

slowbern

Jun 4, 06 18:14

Post #3 of 5 (178 views)

Re: hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay? [maybourne] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I will admit that it has bee a couple of years since I read through my medical insurance policy, but as I recall, I am covered (in the event of an accident) but only secondary to the auto insurance. Of course I live in MI where there is mandated auto insurance. As a paramedic, I see a ton of car wrecks and I take a ton of people to the hospital. It seems like I have never seen a Dr. so overly zealous that they wouldn't just bill the HMO. There must have been some kind of a crack down or something. Maybe your friend could sue the uninsured guy and a judge could sentence him to be her personal servant (a la Seinfeld).

Bernie

_______________
"Long ago, I taught my band of assassins that throwing shoes was cool in a theatrical sense, but was basically meaningless in a lethal sense."-MZM

tri_bri2

Jun 5, 06 9:01

Post #4 of 5 (118 views)

Re: hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay? [maybourne] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'd say the doctor is wrong (at least in Florida, anyway--other states may differ, I guess). The medical insurance policy has the first obligation to pay for your health care, regardless of cause. Then, they can pursue collection from a liable third party. In Florida, UM is optional, and if you have good medical coverage, you may not need to pay for UM.

DavidK

Jun 6, 06 5:30

Post #5 of 5 (71 views)

Re: hit by an uninsured motorist, will HMO pay? [maybourne] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dr. is wrong. Either the Dr. is innocently mistaken or he/she wants to be paid in full instead of the reduced HMO rate (I know which way I would guess).

David K