My lawyer is advising me to take a 38,500 settlement with no future medical. My question is I guess would Medi-cal help.

Question

My lawyer advised to take the settlement and apply for Medi-cal and have them take out my hardware and pay for physical therapy. The only red flag is my first surgery was payed by medical as well , but my incision did get infected. I didn’t think about workers comp since I was in so much pain from my bimalleolar fracture. Now they want me to settle and I just don’t know if my Medi-cal insurance would cover my hardware removal and further medical care.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

Your situation with the workers' compensation settlement and medical needs requires careful consideration, particularly regarding future healthcare coverage through Medi-Cal. 
 
While Medi-Cal can cover hardware removal surgery and physical therapy, there are important factors to consider. Since Medi-Cal previously covered your first surgery, you'll need to verify with them directly whether they would approve and cover additional procedures related to the same injury, especially given the infection complications. The settlement amount might also affect your Medi-Cal eligibility, so you should discuss income and asset limits with your local Medi-Cal office. 
 
Before accepting the settlement, you might want to get clarity on several points: Would the $38,500 settlement affect your Medi-Cal eligibility? Can you get written confirmation from Medi-Cal about coverage for your specific needed procedures? Have you discussed with your lawyer the total estimated costs of future medical care, including hardware removal, physical therapy, and potential complications? Consider seeking guidance from both your lawyer and Medi-Cal representatives to fully understand how this decision could impact your long-term medical care options.

Q: My lawyer is advising me to take a 38,500 settlement with no future medical. My question is I guess would Medi-cal help.