As we’ve talked about on the blog a few times in the past, Minnesota is a no fault state when it comes to filing an insurance claim after a car accident, which typically makes it easier for you to collect compensation for low-end damage and medical injuries. However, the insurance companies don’t always make it easy to get the compensation you deserve, and it’s possible that your insurance provider will inform you that they are ceasing payment for a no fault claim. Why would they stop paying your no fault claim after they’ve already agreed to pay benefits? We explore why your no fault payments may be terminated in today’s blog.
Insurance Stopped Paying My No Fault Benefits
The Personal Injury Protection insurance on your automobile insurance policy provides a minimum of $20,000 for medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault for your injuries. In this scenario, let’s just assume that your medical care does not exceed this threshold and you do not need to file an additional claim against the at fault driver. You are only working with your own insurance provider through a no fault claim.
If your claim gets approved, you may assume that you’re in the clear to continue sending them any bills you receive as a direct result of medical care for your injuries, and oftentimes this is the case. However, for some individuals, they eventually get a letter in the mail informing them that their insurance company is ceasing payments for some aspects of medical care. Why would they do this and more importantly, can they even legally do this?
Insurance companies are always looking for ways to protect their bottom line, so if they believe they have cause to cease payments, they’ll take it. Here’s a look at some of the most common reasons why they may declare that they are stopping payments for your no fault claim.
1. Delayed Treatment – If you wait a while to seek out a medical evaluation after an automobile accident, you’re only going to make it harder on yourself to earn compensation. The insurance company may argue that your injuries aren’t related to your accident if you waited days or weeks to seek out medical care. Don’t delay in seeking out medical treatment after an accident.
2. Gaps In Treatment – Similarly, if you skip out on appointments or physical therapy sessions, your insurance company will certainly reevaluate their payments. If you don’t show up for appointments, your insurance company will assume that you no longer need medical care for your injuries, and you no longer need compensation to offset these expenses.
3. Pre-Existing Injuries – If the insurance company finds out that you had already been seeking care for a knee or a back injury prior to a car accident, they may request that you seek out an independent medical exam from a provider of their choosing before they continue making payments on a no fault claim. They just want to get a better understanding of what injuries were a direct result of the accident, and which injuries existed prior to the crash.
4. Not Following Medical Advice – If your doctor finds out that you have gone against their advice, your insurance company may decide to stop payments on your no fault claim. If your doctor provides you with clear instructions, be sure to follow their advice. If you believe you are healthy enough to pursue certain activities, get clearance from your doctor first, otherwise it could jeopardize your claim.
5. No Progress – Finally, if you have reached maximum medical improvement or you are no longer making progress with your care, the insurance company may say that they are no longer going to make payments for certain services. For example, let’s say they signed off on weekly chiropractor or massage therapy sessions, but you have not made any progress after a month or two. They may write to inform you that those services will no longer be covered as they are not helping you reach your recovery goals.
If you have questions or concerns after finding out that your no fault claim payments are being changed or terminated, be sure to connect with a professional who can help sort everything out. For more information, or for help with your injury claim, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
