Does Health Insurance Cover Car and Motorcycle Injuries?
Being injured in a car or motorcycle accident can be a chaotic and confusing experience. Not only are you wondering what your next steps are, but you may also wonder who will be responsible for covering the costs of treating your injuries. In most cases, there are several insurance companies and policies in place, including health and medical insurance, car or motorcycle insurance, and other supplemental insurance.
Ensuring that you receive the medical care you need and the compensation you deserve requires understanding the differences between health, auto, and supplemental insurance, including care, injuries, expenses covered, and eligibility criteria. Continue reading to learn the difference between health and car insurance, whether health insurance covers car and motorcycle accidents, and how De Castroverde Injury & Accident Lawyers can help you with your car or motorcycle accident.
What Is the Difference Between Health and Car Insurance?
In simplest terms, health insurance covers some or all of your medical and health-related care and expenses. Car insurance provides liability protection for any damage or injury you cause to someone else with your vehicle. Full coverage car insurance covers you and your property, regardless of fault. While health insurance and car insurance share similarities, such as providing coverage and protection against illness, injury, or damage for a monthly payment, they differ in many ways. The table below details the differences between the two:
| Health Insurance | Car & Motorcycle Insurance |
|---|---|
| Used to maintain the physical and mental health of a person. | Provides compensation for injuries and damages in the case of an accident. |
| Covers preventive care to keep you healthy. | Does not cover maintenance to keep the car running smoothly. |
| Usually obtained through an employer, state-funded program, or paid for privately. | Usually obtained privately. |
| Used more frequently than car insurance. | Most people rarely file a claim for reimbursement. |
| Some states, including California, require people to have health insurance. | Most states, including Nevada, require drivers to carry car insurance at all times. |
Does Health Insurance Cover Injuries From Car And Motorcycle Accidents?
Health insurance can cover injuries from accidents, but it depends on your policy. Although your health insurance is obligated to pay for your preventive care, emergency care, and treatment-related to illnesses and injuries, many health insurance companies have policies that treat injuries from auto and motorcycle accidents differently. For example, some health insurance carriers categorize auto and motorcycle accident injuries under secondary coverage and won’t cover your medical expenses until the auto insurance limit has been met. Others do not cover motorcycle accident injuries at all.
There may be other considerations when using your health insurance to cover treating your auto or motorcycle accident injuries, such as additional costs or restrictions related to using in-network or out-of-network providers or related to specific treatments and services.
Health insurance companies often have a “subrogation clause,” which entitles them to reimbursement from a third party for covering the cost of treatment for your accident injuries. This third party is usually the driver of the vehicle that injured you. Most health insurance companies also include a clause that requires you to exhaust benefits under any available car insurance policy before using your health insurance benefits.
What Injuries Are Covered Under Your Car Insurance Policy?
The types of injuries covered under your car insurance vary based on your policy. However, as an “at-fault” state, Nevada requires drivers to have car insurance with liability coverage that meets the following minimum criteria:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one individual in an accident caused by the owner or driver of the insured vehicle.
- $50,000 for total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner or driver of the insured vehicle.
- $20,000 for property damage per accident caused by the owner or driver of the insured vehicle.
Bodily injury liability insurance applies to damages and physical injuries caused by the policyholder to people — other than the policyholder — involved in that accident, up to the coverage amounts. Bodily injuries can include the following:
- Payments and expenses for medical, physical, or occupational therapy and mental health care.
- Hospital, emergency, and ambulance charges.
- Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs.
- Ambulance charges.
- Short- or long-term nursing care.
- Lost wages and future earnings.
- Pain and suffering.
- Funeral expenses.
Some drivers have additional coverage that reimburses for specific injuries and damage, as well as in certain circumstances, such as:
- Collision coverage: This insurance pays to repair or replace your car after damages caused by a crash, whether or not you were at fault.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This insurance covers your losses when the driver at fault has no insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover your losses.
- Comprehensive: This insurance covers damage from anything other than a collision, such as theft, storms, flood, or vandalism, and most leased or financed cars are required to have it.
- Medical payments coverage: Also called MedPay, this is supplemental insurance to your car and health insurance that’s not subject to health insurance subrogation. It’s optional in Nevada and covers costs from crash-related medical and funeral expenses for any motor vehicle accident you are involved in, whether or not you were at fault or were the driver.
How Can De Castroverde Law Group Help You With Your Car or Motorcycle Accident Case?
With over 15 years of legal experience, our team has helped hundreds of personal injury victims in Las Vegas, Nevada, get the compensation they deserve. Our experienced personal injury attorneys handle a variety of cases, from car accidents and slips and falls to nursing home abuse and wrongful deaths.
At De Castroverde Law Group, each case is handled with professionalism, extensive knowledge of Nevada personal injury law, and dedication. Regardless of your type of personal injury, our experienced accident and injury lawyers handle every step of your personal injury claim process, from adequately assessing your case for damages and filing your claim with the insurance company or the court to obtaining evidence and negotiating settlements.
Contact us online or call 702-780-6462. Our bilingual, knowledgeable, and dedicated team of over 45 legal professionals and support staff are looking forward to helping you get justice and compensation while you recover.