Can Medicaid Help Me Pay Medical Bills After a Georgia Car Accident?

When you’re injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, the driver who caused the crash is responsible for paying your costs. These costs include not only medical treatment but also losses such as pain and suffering, lost wages, and diminished quality of life. Any settlement you receive from the at-fault driver’s insurance company should include the total cost of the accident to make you whole. 

Often, medical costs are the biggest expense after a car accident. Unfortunately, it can take months or even years to settle or litigate your injury claim—and medical bills can pile up while you’re waiting for resolution. If you have health insurance or Medicaid coverage, you should submit your bills for payment as they come due rather than wait until after you agree to a settlement. Most hospitals and providers will opt to bill Medicaid for your care instead of waiting for the other party’s insurance to pay. 

If you’re a Medicaid recipient and receive treatment by a provider enrolled in the Medicaid program, Medicaid will usually pay your medical bills at a greatly discounted rate—regardless of who was at fault for the accident. And even though the bills are paid at a discounted rate, in the State of Georgia (as of 2023) you are entitled to claim the original undiscounted billed amount from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Keep in mind that Medicaid only pays for your medical costs—not your pain and suffering and other accident-related losses, such as lost income and diminished quality of life. You will need to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier to receive full compensation for the accident. If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, Medicaid will still pay your medical bills, but you may have to file a lawsuit to get fully compensated for all your losses. 

If you caused the accident, and you have Medicaid coverage, Medicaid should pay your costs - similar to private health insurance, Medicaid will not cover the other driver’s medical costs if you injure them. You or your liability insurance carrier may be responsible for that.