What Does it Mean to Get Medical Treatment on a Lien?
Many times when people seek attorney assistance for a personal injury case they end up receiving treatment on a “lien.” What does that mean exactly? Normally when you go to the doctor you pay with cash or use insurance. However, when you are treated on a lien that is not the case. A lien is an agreement between you and your doctor where you agree to pay your doctor later (generally when your case is won or lost) in exchange for him or her treating you now. Usually, your attorney will also sign the lien to indicate that he or she acknowledges that the doctor is owed money, and that the attorney will pay the doctor when the case is resolved.
What are the Benefits of a Lien?
First, even though medical insurance is available to all Americans through Obamacare, there are still many people who do not have health insurance. And, even for people who do have health insurance, they may be responsible for out of pocket contributions (such as deductibles) if they receive treatment through their insurance provider. Additionally, many patients wish to treat with medical providers outside of their network because they do not like their normal doctors or because a doctor out of network has a more convenient location.
By treating on a lien, patients have access to thousands of additional medical providers without having to worry about out of pocket expenses. This means that the patient can chose a doctor they like who is close to their work or home. These doctors also tend to be more familiar with the types of injuries associated with accident cases.
Finally, once the case settles, doctors who treat on a lien may also agree to reduce their bill in exchange for prompt payment. This means that the patient can keep more of their settlement dollars in their pocket instead of paying the full costs of their medical treatment.
Why do Doctors Treat on a Lien?
Liens allow doctors to treat patients who they could otherwise not treat because of insurance limitations, economic conditions, or other constraints. By accepting cases on a lien, doctors can expand their practice by taking on more patients. It also allows doctors to help patients who might otherwise receive substandard care from in-network doctors.
