How Injury Settlement Affects Future Health Insurance

As an accident injury lawyer, I constantly receive questions from clients about whether or not their injury claim will affect future health insurance benefits, and whether or not health insurance will continue to provide payments for treatment of their injuries even after settlement has been reached.  This question has come up even more since the passing of the new health care legislation.  With regard to at-fault liability settlements, the new legislation has little to no impact.

With the exception of Medicare and Medicaid,  an injury settlement or verdict for a car accident injury claim will typically not affect the administration of future health care benefits.  This was true even prior to enactment of the new health care reform; however, the new legislation helps provide protection to injured persons who are not covered under a large group health insurance plan from later having their coverage restricted or denied due to a preexisting condition.