Yes, health insurance can cover motorcycle accident injuries, but it usually kicks in after other sources of coverage, like motorcycle insurance. Insurance can help pay for things like hospital bills, surgery, or physical therapy after a crash, but it doesn’t always pay for everything right away.
The rules can be challenging to understand, especially if multiple insurance policies are involved. Motorcycle crashes also bring up bigger concerns, such as who’s responsible for paying your bills, how long the crash stays on your record, and whether your health insurance will try to get repaid later.
If you are recovering from a crash, our Bellevue motorcycle accident lawyers will explain your rights, deal with health and motorcycle insurance companies, and make sure no one takes advantage of you after a serious accident.
How Health Insurance Works After a Motorcycle Accident
Your health insurance is a backup—not your first option—when you’ve been in a motorcycle crash. It will help pay medical bills like emergency room visits, surgery, rehab, or prescriptions, but only after the following happens:
- Motorcycle insurance (like personal injury protection or MedPay) has been used up.
- You have met any deductibles or co-pays.
- The health insurance company decides what’s “covered” and what’s not.
In many cases, your health insurance provider may even ask for repayment if you win a case or settle with the other driver’s insurance. This is called subrogation, and it is important to know how it works so that you don’t lose part of your settlement later.
What if Your Health Insurance Company Wants to Get Paid Back?
If your health insurer has paid for your care and is now saying it wants the money back, our team can do the following to help:
- Review the health plan to see what they are legally allowed to ask for.
- Negotiate how much you have to repay.
- Help reduce or eliminate what you owe.
- Protect your settlement money so more of it stays with you.
What Motorcycle Insurance Covers vs. What Health Insurance Covers
Motorcycle insurance often includes:
- Liability coverage: Pays for others’ injuries or property damage if you caused the crash
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Helps if the other driver has no or low insurance
- Personal injury protection (PIP) or MedPay (less common in motorcycle policies): Pays your medical bills regardless of fault
Health insurance, by contrast, only covers:
- Your medical treatment after the crash
- Hospital stays, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, and medications
- Only what’s listed in your plan and only at approved providers
If your motorcycle policy includes PIP or MedPay, that coverage is usually used before your health insurance kicks in. But here’s the catch: In Washington, motorcycle riders don’t have to carry PIP. Insurance companies must offer it, but it only applies if you bought it. If you didn’t add it to your policy, you won’t have this layer of coverage after a crash.
Can You Rely on Health Insurance Alone After a Motorcycle Crash?
Not always. Health insurance:
- Doesn’t cover lost income.
- Won’t pay to fix your bike.
- May not pay right away if there’s a question about fault.
- May later demand repayment out of your injury settlement.
That’s why it’s important to understand all your options and not just depend on your health insurance to handle everything.
What if You Don’t Have Health Coverage?
If you don’t have health insurance, you could face major medical debt after a crash. Our lawyers help people in this situation by:
- Finding out if the other driver is at fault and has insurance
- Using UM/UIM coverage (if available)
- Negotiating with hospitals and doctors to lower your bills
- Connecting you with providers who may treat you on a lien basis (meaning they get paid out of your future settlement)
If neither PIP nor health insurance is available, some providers might treat you on a lien basis, meaning they bill after your case settles. This payment arrangement ensures that you can get care now and resolve payment later without upfront costs.
We Help With More Than Health Insurance After a Bike Crash
Our personal injury lawyers in Bellevue are here for every part of the process, including:
- Dealing with motorcycle insurance and health insurance
- Talking to doctors and hospitals about billing
- Explaining how Washington laws affect your case
- Fighting for your full damages, including pain and suffering, missed work, and long-term care
When Should You Call a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Crash?
You should call us if:
- You suffered injuries in a crash.
- The other driver blames you for the accident.
- Your medical bills are adding up.
- You are not sure who is supposed to pay.
- The insurance companies are giving you the runaround.
- You don’t have health insurance and don’t know what to do.
Motorcycle accidents are not handled in the same way as car crashes. They often involve more serious injuries and more complicated legal and insurance questions.
Got Hurt in a Motorcycle Crash? Let’s Talk About Your Health Coverage
If you are wondering whether health insurance covers motorcycle accident injuries, you’re probably dealing with big medical bills and looking for answers. We are always here to help.
Premier Law Group has recovered over $100 million for people who were injured, and we’ve been doing it for over 21 years. We know how to take on the insurance companies and help you move forward.
We offer a FREE case review directly with a lawyer. Our team also handles the insurance calls and paperwork—including your medical records and bills—so that you can focus on healing. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will guide you through your options and help you move forward. Call us today to get started.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.