
If you are injured due to someone else’s negligence, it’s typical for your insurance company to cover your initial expenses until you are able to recover damages from the responsible party or parties. But if you do not have health insurance, you may find yourself receiving medical bills you can’t afford to pay. This is where doctors on lien come in. These are medical providers who agree to wait for payment until you receive funds from a settlement or a court judgment. Below you’ll find four benefits associated with this option.
1. Immediate Access to Medical Care
The most important benefit doctors on lien can provide is giving you access to the medical care they need after being injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault. Even if you sustained what seems like minor strains and sprains, you may develop more severe symptoms later if you forego treatment because of a lack of insurance. A lawyer should be able to help you locate doctors or specialists in your areas willing to sign a doctor’s lien agreement prior to providing treatment.


2. Better Odds of Recovering Sooner
While you do have a right to refuse treatment if you’ve been injured in a slip-and-fall, car accident, or similar incident, doing so could delay or extend your recovery period and contribute to long-term health issues. Doctors on lien can provide the immediate care you need for little or no expense on your part. This is because fees will be subtracted from what you get from the responsible party or their insurance company.
3. Access to Many Different Doctors/Specialists
Doctor’s lien arrangements can be made with many types of doctors other than a general practitioner. For instance, an orthopedic specialist willing to subtract their fee from your settlement or judgment would be a more appropriate choice if you have whiplash, suspected joint injuries, or spine-related discomfort. Other types of doctors and specialists may also be willing to accept “pay later” arrangements. Some of them include:
- Chiropractors
- Occupational or physical therapists
- Counselors or therapists if you have mental health issues related to your personal injuries
4. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Being involved in an unexpected auto accident or sustaining another type of personal injury can be stressful enough. But not having an ability to cover immediate medical expenses before you can pursue legal action can further add to your stress and anxiety. Seeking treatment from doctors on lien can allow you to focus on your recovery without the added stress of trying to figure out how to manage payments. You also won’t have to deal with the stress of collection efforts initiated by physicians or other medical professionals seeking payment for outstanding balances.
It’s generally recommended that you avoid seeking treatment via a doctors on lien arrangement if you have existing private or workplace health coverage. Doing so may result in conflicts with your policy. If you have little or no insurance or financial resources, however, this arrangement could provide added peace of mind as you recover and explore your legal options for appropriate compensation.