Should the insurance company cover my medical expenses?

3 months ago I got into a car accident which had me ending up with a ride in an ambulance to the hospital. Luckily, there were no serious injuries but whiplash. My boyfriend was the driver by the way and there were no other cars involved. I had never been in an accident before.

3 months later I still feel the pain in my shoulder from the accident. I was an idiot and signed a waiver that released the insurance company from liability of covering all my medical expenses for just $200. I don't need a lecture on what a huge mistake that was...I was new and unfamiliar and was just told it was for my pain and suffering is all.

His insurance company covers me up to $5,000 from the accident. The hospital was $4,400 for just one trip and to be looked at!! So basically, I only have $650 for chiropractic treatment which I don't think is enough. I have no health insurance that covers this, only serious life threatening situations.

So, what should I do? I don't make much, my boyfriend makes a decent amount of money and does okay. Is it wrong for me to ask him to help pay for my treatment? He already feels guilty about the whole thing every time someone brings it up.

 

Has your boyfriend offered to help pay? If not, I think it would be wrong to ask him unless the cause of the accident was due to some real negligence on his part. And even if he was negligent, that's why he has insurance. You were the one who chose to sign all but $5000 of it away.

If he wasn't negligent and it was just an "accident" would you feel good about preying on the guilt he may have for being the driver when it occurred or thinking he should pay because he makes more money than you do?

The $650 left over for chiropractic treatment should cover at least half a dozen visits. If it doesn't, I'd find a cheaper chiro. 6 or so visits will be helpful in getting you over the worst of your injury. Any additional chiro visits should come out of your own pocket unless your boyfriend offers to pay for them.

Hope you're feeling better soon, chelle. I had whiplash about 30 years ago and can sympathize with you.

 

Joniesmack, does it count that he wanted me to go with him to his car club? It was some kind of curvy roads where you drive fast...his car club does it once a year I guess. I decided to go because I trusted him being skilled since he has done it before. He told me he'll never have someone in the car again like that because it was hard to see me like that and he feels guilty about the whole accident still because of the pain he put me through.

At the hospital he did tell me he'd help me cover expenses but he was probably thinking in terms of hospital bills..not treatment. The insurance covered the hospital bills.

I'm not usre if $650 is enough because I called around and usually expenses for treatment are about $150-$180 if auto insurance is included for some reason.

If it is unfair to ask him, how am I to pay for this?? I barely make anything.

 

Find a lawyer who'll give you a no-charge consultation. Take the waiver with you. You may be out of luck with the insurance company, but then, every state has a different take on these things.

Sorry, but I can't endorse asking the boyfriend for money. He carries insurance so that he is shielded from liability in situations like this. That damned waiver! Expecting something from the BF would probably only serve as a wedge between you. If he makes an offer though....

Sad to think of you hurting. chelle. Hope relief comes soon!

 

Does he know you signed away additional coverage? Has he offered to help with expenses since the hospital visit? I think it was irresponsible of him to invite you along on his car club "speeding" outing but in the final analysis, it was your choice to accept.

You can ask him if he'd be willing to help you pay for the remaining treatments but if I were you, I wouldn't do it in a manipulative way. If he appears at all reluctant, I wouldn't push him. If it comes to it, then I suppose you will have to forgo the extra chiro visits if you can't afford them.

I got no treatment for my whiplash following the original hospital visit and found that, in time, it worked itself out.

Unfortunately, this whole thing rests on the fact that you turned down the insurance that would have seen you through the whole recovery process. You have to take responsibility and deal with the consequences of that decision.

 

I think it's wrong that you should even have been asked to sign away your coverage. I also think it was foolish of you to take the money.

However, you did. Now you have to live with that decision.

 

What did I say? I already said I KNOW it was a mistake, how many times do you guys have to tell me that? I'm looking for options on what I should do not what I have done wrong...

 

I think I gave you the option I see.

Live with it.

It's the only one I've got to offer.

 

Alistair, you can take that advice back lol it does me no good.

I found a place within my hometown and they seem very friendly. They said they can try to work within my budget and if I don't have insurance it's $38 flat rate but that can probably easily add up if you go once or twice a week.

 

Knowing something was a mistake and being willing to accept the consequences are two separate things, chelle. The major consequence of your decision is that you are now short on medical coverage. Who should pay for that "mistake"? You, your boyfriend, or the insurance company that swindled you with your consent?

Your mistake has left you with less than perfect options, as you yourself realize. You can take the legal route and take the insurance company to court in an effort to have your consent arrangement rescinded, you can ask your boyfriend for the money and as grumpyolddude pointed out, risk inserting a wedge in your relationship, you can look for another way to get the extra money (2nd job, better paying job, loan, parents, etc) or you can live with the residual pain of your injury once the chiropractic treatments have ended.

Those are your options chelle, as far as I can tell.

Edit: just saw your good news. $38 a session is a good deal. That's about 17 treatments covered by the $650. Surely, after that, going twice a month until you're back to normal should not be too much of a financial burden.

Good luck.

 

I guess it's solved.

I'm not clear on what advice you wanted. The thread appeared to be about who should pay (going by the title). Of course, it could have been about what medical route to take (in which case, I'd suggest asking someone qualified) or where to go that's cheap. Sounds like the last question is now resolved.

If it's not solved, what exactly are you asking?

 

Aww chelle.

I've just seen your thread. I'm so sorry.

The $38 sessions do seem a very good deal. Nice to know that there are ethical sliding-scale practitioners around.
A free legal consultation to ascertain your position regarding the insurance company who got you to sign the waiver sounds a good idea, too.

Bloody hell

Take care, Chelle.

 

In response to the question in the title..nope they shouldn't have to pay b/c they already paid you an amount you agreed to. Making them pay twice would be unlawful unless you & an attorney can manage to prove it was signed under serious duress or the waiver was fraudulent in some way. So, despite the unwillingness to accept his advice, alistair is spot on. Live with it. Be thankful you've found a place to treat you at a decent price & move forward.

 

That may not be the case, oh Ms. Quick to Jump. Chiropractors have their own insurance companies that will cover the remaining portion of a patient's charges if the patient is unable to pay or their own insurance does not cover chiropractics.