When someone gets hurt at work and needs immediate medical attention, they often end up in the emergency room at the nearest hospital. Once the hospital staff learn that the injury occurred at work, they know that they cannot bill the injured worker's private insurance, but at the same time the employer may not have reported the injury to their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier yet, so you might not have a claim number to give to the hospital.
It may not be until weeks later that the bills start showing up, demanding that you pay astronomical amounts. Many of our clients come to us about unpaid emergency room bills only after trying to navigate the bureaucratic hospital billing departments themselves. By that time, the hospital has sometimes already sent the bill to a collections agency.
While unpaid medical bills no longer affect credit scores in New York State, the flurry of past due notices are the last thing an injured worker needs when they are trying to get better and return to work. Additionally, this new law does not apply if you make the mistake of agreeing to a payment plan and miss payments, so it is important to be aware of your rights under the Workers’ Compensation Law.
At MCV Law, our Workers’ Compensation team takes these kinds of problems off of your plate and makes sure your emergency room bills get paid. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a phone call to the hospital to provide them the claim information, but other times, it takes multiple cease and desist letters and repeated phone calls before the hospital will stop sending our clients bills for emergency room visits.
New York Workers' Compensation benefits can help cover emergency room visits, other medical costs, and even lost wages. Securing these benefits can be a complicated process, but we are here to help. After a work injury, connect with our team for a free consultation, so we can provide you with the guidance and clarity you need.