Have you been in an auto accident recently? You can be seeking medical treatment–today–at no additional cost to you. The coverage for your medical expenses is provided by your auto insurance and is called Personal Injury Protection.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) entitles you to a minimum of $15,000 in expenses for all insured drivers in the state of Oregon. If you have never heard of this benefit before, you’re not alone! We hope to shed some light on the details of what this entails and what you can gain from it.
1. What if the accident was my fault?
Oregon is a no-fault state, which means it does not matter who was at fault; all drivers are still covered and able to seek medical treatment.
2. What if I was the only person involved in the accident?
You are still covered! Say if your car ran off the road and you hit a stationary object or you were a motorcyclist who dropped your bike in poor weather conditions–both of these situations still entitle you to seek medical treatment under PIP coverage.
3. What if I was a bicyclist who got into a collision with a vehicle?
You are covered under the motorist’s insurance. Assuming you received contact and insurance information, you are covered through their insurance policy. If you have auto insurance, your policy will pay (e.g. hit and run).
4. Do I need a referral to come in?
Our doctors are licensed as primary care providers in the state of Oregon, so there is no referral needed. This means you can walk straight into our office after your accident and we will help you set up your appointment.
5. What is covered at Hosmer Chiropractic Health through my PIP?
All services rendered in our office are covered. We offer chiropractic, massage therapy, physical therapy, K-laser light therapy, and in-house digital X-rays should they be deemed necessary after your first appointment. In addition, we have natural supplements and rehabilitation tools that we can send you home with to aid your symptoms during recovery–all covered through your PIP!
6. I’m not sure if chiropractic is right for my symptoms
We have a vast referral network at our clinic and will refer you to another trusted provider should we feel your case falls outside the scope of our expertise.
7. What if I’m not having symptoms?
Even if you are not having symptoms, it may be in your best interest to have a formal evaluation. There are things you may not immediately realize are a result of your accident but our chiropractors will be able to identify. It is very common to not feel the after effects of an auto accident until 24-72 hours after the accident.
8. When is the best time to come in?
Our policy is “the sooner the better!” This gives us the best chance to positively influence the healing process and decrease the likelihood of later complications.
9. I’ve never heard of a PIP before–are you sure it’s part of my insurance plan?
It’s not always advertised by insurance companies, and that’s why it’s so often overlooked when people get into accidents. In the state of Oregon, you are required to have PIP on your insurance plan. The only exception is if you have waived this right, and it was documented in writing with your insurance company.
10. I haven’t been in an accident before. Is there anything I can do to be prepared?
You can call your insurance company and see how much it costs per year to max out the PIP coverage on your plan. PIP coverage starts at $15,000 but for some insurance companies, you can raise that up to $50,000 for as little as $20 added to your annual premium.
Expert Tip: Start out by opening a claim with YOUR insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. If the other party is at fault, your insurance company will take care of billing the responsible party.
More questions? Feel free to give us a call at (503) 227-2279 or check out these helpful links: