subrogation and the underdog
Monday, March 15, 2010 by Underdog Lawyer
Subrogation is a big legal word and it affects people injured in accidents every day. Health insurance carriers,as an example, say it gives them the right to recover for medical bills the carrier paid when you have been injured in an accident. That doesn't sound bad until you find out health insurance companies can use it to see they get reimbursed BEFORE you recover.
As an example,assume you are injured in a auto accident and you lost earnings due to your injury of $8,000. The person who is responsible for your injuries only has insurance coverage of $15,000. But the health insurance carrier paid your medical bills of $12,000 (for which you paid a premium) and wants paid back for their bills FIRST! So if you listen to them you would never get reimbursed for your loss of earnings.
Fortunately that is illegal in Pennsylvania in most situations, but it doesn't mean health insurance carriers don't improperly try to subrogate. At Radcliffe & DeHaas we have filed class actions to stop that practice and recovered for hundreds of people who were wronged in that manner.
So just because an insurance company uses big words like subrogation, don't be fooled- talk to an attorney.
As an example,assume you are injured in a auto accident and you lost earnings due to your injury of $8,000. The person who is responsible for your injuries only has insurance coverage of $15,000. But the health insurance carrier paid your medical bills of $12,000 (for which you paid a premium) and wants paid back for their bills FIRST! So if you listen to them you would never get reimbursed for your loss of earnings.
Fortunately that is illegal in Pennsylvania in most situations, but it doesn't mean health insurance carriers don't improperly try to subrogate. At Radcliffe & DeHaas we have filed class actions to stop that practice and recovered for hundreds of people who were wronged in that manner.
So just because an insurance company uses big words like subrogation, don't be fooled- talk to an attorney.