What Happens If Medical Bills Exceed Policy Limits
By Pyle Law, Reviewed by E. Thomas Pyle February 06 2025 4:23 pmIf you’ve ever asked yourself, “What happens if medical bills exceed policy limits?” you are not alone. This is one of the common problems injured persons have when facing high medical bills after an accident or illness. In such cases, reaching beyond the limits of your available insurance coverage equates to very stressful financial burdens. At Pyle Law, we proudly serve McPherson, Kansas, guiding our clients through complicated insurance claims to give them the needed support.
Policy limits determine the amount an insurance provider will pay for claims occurring under a particular policy. Kansas has minimum liability limits for car wrecks, but there could be additional coverage under the tortfeasor’s insurance coverage, and the injured person may also have additional insurance coverage. However, these policy limits might not cover all expenses, especially when it comes to serious or long-term injuries.
Important information about How Much Compensation for a Hand Injury at Work in Kansas? and What Is the Average Workers’ Comp Settlement for Surgery?
Protect your rights after a crash: Read Understanding Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident Cases to learn how to gather scene evidence, leverage Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage, and seek financial recovery.
When medical costs exceed the policy’s cap, you may feel like you’re stuck covering the excess on your own. Fortunately, that’s not always the case. You may have other policies that may provide coverage for your loss, and you may also be able to negotiate with creditors to reduce what you owe.
Some defendants may have umbrella policies to manage liabilities that surpass the limits of ordinary policies. An umbrella policy is a secondary coverage; it comes into play when the primary policy is tapped out.
If, in those rare instances, your expenses exceed the insurance coverage available, you may have to seek damages directly against the defendant.
Some individuals may have insurance coverage with a higher liability limit than the defendant. If so, you may have an underinsured motorist claim against your insurance carrier for the difference between the two policy amounts.
If the settlement negotiations fail or insurance policies cannot fully cover your medical bills, then legal action may be your best option.
Federal protections like the No Surprises Act shield individuals from unexpected out-of-network medical bills. Effective January 1, 2022, this law ensures patients aren’t charged extra for emergency visits, in-network non-emergency care, and air ambulance services. These protections involve employees with employer-provided insurance, Federal Employees Health Benefits plans, or marketplace coverage.
Knowing how these laws intersect with rules in Kansas may help present your case for more compensation.
Related reading: Do You Get Paid If You’re Injured at Work?
At Pyle Law, we’re here to assist you sort out excessive medical bills resulting from a personal injury claim. Our experienced team will guide you through negotiations for a settlement, access to umbrella insurance, making an underinsured motorist claim, or filing a case in court. Visit us at 705 W Kansas Ave, McPherson, KS 67460, or call 620-241-9000 for a free consultation and secure your support.
Understand settlement timing: Read When Will Workers’ Comp Offer a Settlement? to learn how Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and case evaluations dictate when insurance companies make an offer.
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Pyle Law was founded in 1999 with a commitment to fewer clients and better service. We believe that each and every client is important and everyone is entitled to justice and equal protection under our laws. We make every case a priority and are committed to keeping each client informed about the status of their case. We do not guarantee results, but we do guarantee effort.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney E. Thomas Pyle who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney.
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