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Will my health insurance company try to sue my friend's homeowner's policy?
Anonymous3 views1 answers
I slipped and fell onto my ribs while helping my friend do some work on his new house. I went to the emergency room and found out I broke two ribs. My heath insurance company (Cigna) covered most of the bills and I had to pay like $100 out of pocket. Now, I just got a questionnaire from a company representing Cigna, and it seems like they're fishing for info on who they can blame for my injuries. I do not want any money from my friend, and I do not want Cigna to go after his homeowner's insurance. Do I have to fill out the questionnaire? Can Cigna drop me if I don't? If there was no negligence on my friend's part, can Cigna still go after his homeowner's insurance without my consent/cooperation?
These are all excellent questions. Let me take them one at a time. First, under most insurance policies there is a clause requiring the insured (you) to cooperate with the insurane carrier in any investigation of a claim. So, therefore in all likelihood, you would need to provide the carrier with some basic information about what happened. In some instances, failing to "cooperate" might lead to the carrier denying the claim. Second, most policies contain language providing a contractual right of subrogation to the insurance carrier to bring claims in your name against persons who might be responsible for causing the event that led to the need for medical care. In other words, by accpeting insurance benefits (i.e. making the claim), you agree to allow your carrier to bring claims in your name against people/companies who might be liable for causing your injury. Finally, all of this will likely depend upon the particular facts of how you slipped and fell. Did your friend do anything to cause the accident? Or, was it simply your own fault in not watching where you were going? If it is yoru ault, your medical insurer doesn't have a claim. Also, the lesser amount of money involved, the less likely your insurance carrier is to pursue the recovery. You don;t mak mention of the dollar amount of the care your received (what the carrier paid - not what they were billed) Good luck. Consult with a Virginia attorney if you need more help.