Treatment after an Arizona car accident is billed in a set order: first to the med-pay portion of an auto insurance policy if one is carried, then to health insurance if there is no auto coverage or it runs out, and last to a lien against a future settlement where an attorney is involved. Nothing is due at the first visit while that is being sorted out.
Auto insurance and med-pay. Many Arizona auto policies include medical payments coverage, which pays for accident-related care regardless of fault. Where it is available, it is billed first.
Health insurance. If there is no med-pay coverage, or it is exhausted, care is billed to your own health insurance the same way any other visit would be.
A lien against the settlement. Where an attorney is representing the claim, care can be billed on a lien: the office is paid out of the eventual settlement, and payment is held until the case resolves. Nothing is billed to the patient directly while a lien is in place.
No upfront cost. We can wait for your settlement.
Which billing route applies is worked out at that first visit, not before.
No. If there is no med-pay coverage, care is billed to your health insurance, or to a lien if an attorney is involved.
Tell the office at the first visit. Which route applies, including a lien if you are represented, is worked out before treatment starts.
An attorney isn't required. Most accident care is billed to med-pay or health insurance without one.
No. The billing route is settled at that visit, and there is no upfront cost.
Fault is between the insurance companies. Treatment and billing move forward the same way while that is being sorted out.
Auto insurance, health insurance, or a lien while a claim is open — the route is worked out at the first visit, and appointments are usually available within the same week.
