Things can always get complicated after you’re injured in an automobile accident. Medical payments often stack up so much that you can’t pay for everything—if Medicare steps in and pays for some treatment, you need to know about repaying Medicare due to the lien they’ll take out of your settlement. Read on to learn what to expect from Medicare medical liens.
What Is a Medical Lien?
Simply put, a medical lien is effectively an agreement between you and another party that, should you take your personal injury case to court and get awarded a settlement, the other party gets paid first. This is usually because you could either not pay the hospital, and the hospital applies the lien, or an agency like Medicare stepped in to pay the bill for you. In that case, Medicare applies the lien.
How Does a Medicare Lien Work?
If no other agencies are responsible for paying your medical bills (such as insurance companies or workers’ compensation benefits), Medicare will step in to cover your bills. Unfortunately, Medicare expects you to reimburse them for this payment.
What Happens Next?
Medicare won’t forget about their repayment—they will enforce liens. In fact, the laws surrounding Medicare liens allow them to file a lawsuit against you and even your legal representation if you don’t pay them back. Additionally, Medicare can fine the insurer up to $1,000 a day for every day they remain out of compliance with Medicare’s requirements.
The Proper Way To Deal With It
The most important thing you can do is to hire a competent attorney who can guide you through your lawsuit and reach a settlement that you and Medicare are happy with. To help, Apogee Capital Partners has a system in place for funding plaintiffs. We know that court costs can stack up, so let us lend a hand.
Now that you know what to expect from Medicare medical liens, don’t worry—they’re not as scary as they seem, especially with a helping hand. Apogee Capital Partners and your legal representation are both here to support you. Feel free to contact our team with any questions about plaintiff funding.
