Serving Columbus, Albany & South Georgia - Keep More of Your Own Money - Free Advice
Serving Columbus, Albany & South Georgia - Keep More of Your Own Money - Free Advice
I have been blessed to work with hundreds of local soldiers and their spouses over the course of my career. Here in Columbus, it is critically important for soldiers to know their rights, because they have additional benefits that can be used to maximize recovery. First, Army members have Tricare. Tricare provides excellent benefits and protects its insureds from unreasonably high hospital charges and liens. Under clear Georgia personal injury law, hospitals are required to bill Tricare, and it is against the law for them to file liens like they can against uninsured people or even persons with insurers like Blue Cross and Cigna. Many times, fighting liens and unreasonable bills is an essential part of maximizing client recovery, particularly when the person that cause a wreck had low limits of insurance.
Next, federal law extends the amount of time that military members have to file claims, so even if you think the time to file your claim has passed, that time may have been extended under federal law that protects soldiers who are away from their home serving this country.
When Tricare pays for your medical care, it has a lien that must be paid from a settlement. Law firms from ouyt of state or from areas without a significant military presence (like Atlanta) often do not understand that Tricare MUST be paid, and the failure to pay such a lien can result in a negative impact on your coverage and rights. However, a Tricare lien can also be used as a sword to expose uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that might not otherwise be available. Under Georgia law, uninsured motorist carriers who provide "offset" or "reduced" coverage must pat the amount of the lien. This additional coverage can dramatically help your net recovery.
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