Yes. Under EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), hospitals must provide emergency care—such as EMS and ER treatment—regardless of your ability to pay. However, this does not mean the care is free. You are still responsible for your medical bills, and non-emergency providers are not required to treat you without payment.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, many medical providers are more willing to treat you because they know they can secure payment through a medical lien. This means the provider is paid directly from your settlement once your case resolves.
If you don’t have insurance, you may need to find a doctor who accepts lien-based treatment. Some unpaid bills may also go to collections, but collection agencies often cooperate once they know an injury claim is being handled by an attorney.
If you were injured in a car accident, check your auto policy for medical payments (“med pay”) coverage, which can help pay medical bills as they come in. Most policies offer around $5,000, so it may not cover everything in a serious injury case, but it can help in the short term.
If you are unsure if you have med pay coverage, your attorney can help you navigate the specifics of your plan.
