Cases involving Medicare can be much more complicated than cases involving private insurers. One family using Medicare found that out after the mother was seriously hurt in a car accident. They were unable to resolve their claim with the wrongdoer’s insurance company, so they hired an experienced personal injury lawyer. After the lawyer was able to settle the case for $100,000, the family thought that their life would turn around. However, they soon discovered that Medicare was demanding all of the settlement proceeds for reimbursement of the medical bills it had paid on the mother’s behalf. In fact, Medicare claimed it should be reimbursed for all medical care provided to the mother for the last five years, even though the accident had only happened a year earlier.

Their experienced personal injury lawyer was able to distinguish the charges for treatment of the auto accident injuries from the other types of treatment. Medicare, because it is a government entity without any true controls, took months to consider the case. After extensive negotiations with Medicare, the lawyer was able to substantially reduce Medicare’s claim, to an amount allowing this needy family to retain enough money to help pay the mother’s future medical expenses and replace their car.