How Trump’s Short-Term Insurance Policies Could Affect Personal Injury Law

TYLER and LONGVIEW, Texas. The Trump administration plans to increase access to insurance plans known as “junk plans.” According to the Atlantic, these plans offer too few services to qualify for Affordable Care Act tax credits. By all accounts, these plans will be far cheaper than the plans currently available on the Obamacare market. These short-term plans often won’t cover the full cost for accidents or for injuries individuals suffer due to a car accident or sports injury. Furthermore, these plans may not cover preexisting conditions.

So, how would these short-term plans affect personal injury law? Currently, under Obamacare, if a person is injured in a car accident and has insurance, the person’s medical bills would be covered after the individual meets the deductible. This means that if you were to get in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, your health insurance would kick in, protecting you from facing the worst medical expenses.

However, with a short-term plan, individuals would have to meet far higher deductibles, and even after the deductible is met, the plan will only cover half of the person’s medical expenses. So, if you or a loved one is hurt in a car accident and has a skimpier plan, the burden for paying medical bills might be placed on your family. These insurance policies also don’t cover prescription drugs. This means that any medication an individual might need after surgeries or for pain would need to be covered out of pocket. Victims of car accidents might be more willing to pursue personal injury claims against negligent drivers, especially if they find themselves otherwise having to foot the bill themselves. However, the Atlantic estimates that typical car accident care under these skimpy plans could cost as much as $10,000 out of pocket. These figures could be more difficult to recover, especially if a negligent driver is underinsured or uninsured.

The Cooper Law Firm are accident lawyers in Tyler and Longview, Texas who are closely watching how changes to Obamacare might impact personal injury law.

Consumer Reports recently reported that the language of these plans can sometimes be misleading to consumers. Consumers might believe they are purchasing coverage when the reality is that these plans would likely cover only 25% of a hospital stay or expenses from a personal injury. In some cases, insurers can escape paying altogether under these plans. The burden is on consumers to determine whether they are covered. There has already been indication that some companies have engaged in misleading tactics. When buying a health care plan, take the time to understand whether it meets ACA standards or not. You could be paying hundreds a month for a plan that offers little to no benefit.  If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tyler or Longview, Texas, protect your rights. The Cooper Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Tyler and Longview who work closely with victims and families who have been hurt due to the negligence or neglect of another person or party.

 

Cooper Law Firm

501 N Third St,

Longview, TX 75601

Telephone: (903) 297-0037