Coordination of Benefits After a Kansas or Missouri Accident
If you are injured in a car accident near the Kansas/Missouri border, figuring out who will pay your medical bills is likely to be a whole lot more complicated than you ever thought it would be. That’s why the Kansas personal injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group are here with the information you need on coordination of benefits.
Kansas: No-Fault System and PIP Coverage—Not Always What You’d Think
Kansas uses a no-fault auto insurance system to determine liability. This means your own insurance company pays for your medical treatment first–regardless of who caused the crash.
First Payer: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage
In Kansas, every driver’s auto policy is required to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. You can’t opt out.
- Minimum requirement: All Kansas drivers must carry a policy with a $4,500 medical expense limit (although most drivers pay for more than that)
- How it works: Medical providers bill your auto insurance company directly, and your PIP coverage pays out 100% of eligible bills up to the policy limit. No deductible applies.
Because PIP is compulsory, Kansas law says it’s got to be the first in line to pay out for accident-related medical care after a car accident.
Next Up: Health Insurance Steps In
Once you’ve used up your PIP benefits, your health insurance kicks in as the second payer.
- Most health insurance companies refuse to cover accident-related claims until you provide proof from your auto insurance company that you’ve exhausted your PIP benefits
- Once the PIP is all used up, your health plan pays out according to its usual rules–including any deductibles or copays
That’s the two-step process that makes up the coordination of benefits in Kansas.
Missouri: The ‘Fault-Based’ System for Coordination of Benefits
Missouri, on the other hand, follows the more traditional fault-based system of liability. It also has a pretty strong rule to protect consumers when it comes to taking money out of a medical insurance policy.
First Payer: MedPay
Missouri doesn’t require drivers to carry Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage.
- If you did buy MedPay, it will usually pay out first, like a mini-personal injury protection in Kansas
- If not, the coordination of benefits moves straight to your health insurance
Health Insurance
In most cases, for Missouri drivers, your health insurance is in the mix from the start–you just treat it the same as any other medical care, paying out any applicable deductibles and copays in the process.
Missouri’s Anti-Subrogation Rule: A Big Plus
Missouri public policy generally means health insurance companies can’t take money from your settlement.
- What the rule says: State-regulated health insurers can’t normally ask for a cut of your settlement funds
- One exception: If you’ve got a self-funded ERISA plan through a large employer, federal law overrules Missouri’s protection and lets your health company take their cut
This distinction alone can end up making a big difference to the amount of money you’re left with after you’ve settled your claim.
Kansas vs Missouri at a Glance
- Kansas
- No-fault system
- PIP pays out first (and it’s mandatory)
- Health insurance pays next
- Settlement money gets taken back
- Missouri
- Fault-based system
- MedPay pays first if you have it
- Health insurance pays out right away
- Reimbursement is usually not allowed unless you’re with an ERISA plan
Here to Help You Figure Out Coordination of Benefits
Here at Patterson Legal Group, we’re here to give you the information you need on coordination of benefits. We’re also here for you if you’re dealing with the claims process after an accident. Our dedicated team of litigators and trial lawyers has a proven track record of success in securing compensation for those in Kansas, as well as in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. We will fight for you every step of the way.
Get started today with a free consultation by calling us at 888-687-2400 or going online through our secure contact form. You can also connect with our LiveChat representatives. We work under a “No Win, No Fee” promise, so you won’t pay anything unless we win. Reach out today and take the first step toward getting the money you deserve.
