Medicare and Car Accidents in Louisiana
Medicare doesn't pay your car insurance bills after an accident, but it can still get involved in your medical care and the claim.
Medicare isn't your car insurance after a crash
If you're hurt in a car accident in Louisiana, Medicare is not the first payer. Louisiana requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage, and most drivers also carry medical payments or are covered under the other driver's policy. That coverage pays first.
Medicare can step in afterward, for medical costs that your auto coverage doesn't fully cover, or once your auto coverage is used up. This is sometimes called Medicare being a secondary payer. Which coverage pays first and how much depends on your policy and the policies of anyone else involved, so this isn't something to guess at before you know the details of your crash.
Your auto policy's medical coverage comes first
In Louisiana, the driver who caused the accident is generally responsible for the damages, including medical bills. Their liability coverage is supposed to pay for your injuries up to their policy limit.
If you have medical payments coverage or uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy, that can also come into play before Medicare does. Check your declarations page to see what you're carrying.
Medicare only starts paying once those sources are used up or once it's clear they won't cover everything. Medicare can also ask to be paid back later if it turns out your auto coverage should have covered a bill it already paid. This is why insurers and Medicare sometimes go back and forth on who owed what, and why a claim can take a while to fully settle.
If you're not sure what your policy covers, call your agent or insurer and ask directly what happens to medical bills after an at-fault accident.
What people get wrong about Medicare and accident claims
A common mistake is assuming Medicare will simply pick up medical bills right away, the way it would for an unrelated illness. It doesn't work that way when another driver's insurance or your own auto policy is supposed to pay first.
Another mistake is not telling Medicare about the accident at all. Medicare needs to know when an accident is involved so it can sort out who pays first. Not reporting it can cause delays or repayment demands down the road.
People also assume their age or Medicare enrollment changes what car insurance they're required to carry. It doesn't. Louisiana's insurance requirements apply the same way regardless of whether you're on Medicare.
If you get bills from a hospital or provider that seem to be asking Medicare and your auto insurer to pay for the same thing, that's worth a call to both to get it sorted out before it becomes a bigger problem.
Questions people ask about this
does Medicare cover car accident injuries in Louisiana?
Medicare can cover car accident injuries, but usually only after your auto insurance coverage has paid what it owes or has been exhausted. Your own policy's medical payments coverage or the at-fault driver's liability coverage is generally supposed to pay first.
do I need to report a car accident to Medicare?
Yes, if Medicare may end up paying any of your medical bills from the accident, you or your provider typically need to let Medicare know an accident was involved. This helps Medicare determine whether it's the primary or secondary payer for those bills.
can Medicare take money back from a car accident settlement?
Medicare can seek reimbursement if it paid medical bills that should have been covered by auto insurance or a settlement. This is why it's worth telling Medicare about a claim early rather than after a settlement is finalized.
does being on Medicare affect my car insurance rates in Louisiana?
Medicare enrollment itself doesn't set your car insurance rate. Insurers look at factors like your driving record, the car you drive, and where you live. Ask your insurer directly if you want to know what's affecting your premium.
what car insurance coverage is required in Louisiana regardless of age?
Louisiana requires drivers to carry liability insurance that meets the state's minimum limits, and this requirement doesn't change based on age or Medicare status. Check with your insurer or the Louisiana Department of Insurance to confirm current requirements.
See how your coverage compares before you need to rely on it.
Pull out your current auto policy and check what medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage you actually have. If you've recently been in an accident, call your insurer to ask who pays first and call Medicare to let them know an accident was involved. Keep copies of any bills and explanation of benefits statements you receive, since you may need to show them to more than one party. If anything seems to be billed twice or denied without explanation, ask your provider's billing office to walk you through it. This is also a good time to compare quotes and make sure your medical payments coverage is enough for your situation, not just the state minimum.
