What to do if you are injured in an accident and you are on Medicaid or Medicare

Accidents happen every day, and sometimes there is nothing that can be done to avoid them. Sometimes when a person is injured through no fault of their own, they avoid a claim for personal injuries because they believe that Medicaid or Medicare prevents them from obtaining the treatments that they need. This is simply not the case. Here is a list of easy steps to follow if you are on Medicaid or Medicare and find yourself in an automobile accident or hurt through someone else’s faults: 

• If possible, take pictures of the accident scene. If the accident is a motor vehicle accident, include pictures of all sides of the car you were in, the car that hit you, debris on the ground, and any visible injury you may have. If you are unable to, ask that someone at the scene take pictures for you. 
• Do not refuse medical treatment. If the EMS team recommends for you to go to the hospital, go to the hospital. 
• Once at the hospital, do not refuse any treatment recommended by the doctors.
• If you have no broken bones, ask for a referral to an orthopedist to examine you for soft tissue injury. 
• Do not let much time pass between your visit to the hospital and your visit to the orthopedic doctor. If you wait more than a month, your claim could be cut off. 
• Contact an attorney that practices in personal injury for individuals on Medicaid and Medicare, such as the attorneys at Hill Evans Jordan & Beatty, PLLC. DO NOT accept a check from the insurance company if one is offered.