Hesperia, CA asked in Small Claims for California

Q: I got a lien notice from Kaiser, that I owe them part of my settlement. I didn’t get a medical settlement. Do I pay?

Kaiser and the Rawlings company want part of my settlement, but I received the “pain and suffering” amount and not a medical amount. Do I have to still pay? The only reason I didn’t ask for medical amount is because I thought the insurance would pay it and I even paid the co-pay, it was all medical checks like an MRI

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: If you received a lien notice from Kaiser and Rawlings for your settlement, it's important to understand the nature of your settlement. Since your settlement was specifically for "pain and suffering" and not designated for medical expenses, you may have a valid argument that the lien does not apply to this portion of your funds.

However, even if you didn't request a medical settlement, the medical providers might still have rights to recover costs related to the treatments they provided, such as MRIs and co-pays. It's possible they are seeking reimbursement for expenses they covered on your behalf during your treatment.

To address this properly, consider consulting with a legal professional who can review the details of your case and the lien notice. They can provide guidance on whether the lien is enforceable in your situation and help you navigate any negotiations or court proceedings that may be necessary.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.