some questions I need answers for

[mickeym]

As they're relevant to my Big Bang. Anyone who can answer these will have my undying devotion :)

Life Insurance: in the event of a death (auto accident, not the policy holder's fault), how soon would the named beneficiary receive the payout? Is it paid as a lump sum, or in installments? Are taxes taken out of it, or does the beneficiary have to take care of that?

Auto Insurance: how would this work, if it's the fault of the other party? Would that party's insurance contact the survivors of the accident, or do the survivors have to do the contacting? Presumably doctor bills, etc., would be either paid up front or reimbursed by the party at fault?

Medical: you have a 16yr old brought to your ER. Both parents are dead; nearest surviving relative is on the way, but not expected for several hours. Patient is bleeding internally, in addition to a broken leg and assorted contusions, etc. Would the doctors take the patient into surgery w/out a signed consent form, rather than risk patient's life further? Or would they be forced to wait? Could the emergency (non-relative) contact give prelim consent for the surgery?

Any help is greatly appreciated :)

Comments

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

I can't touch the life insurance thing -- no idea.

With auto insurance, generally it's a reimbursement thing. So let's say the victims are treated at the ER and released -- their best bet is to go self-pay and let their agent, and the agent for the at-fault party, know about the impending claim. I honestly don't know for sure, but I suspect the notifying would best be done by surviving family -- get the police report number, all that. Police will give that to any surviving victims right there.

I imagine some providers accept liability as a valid form of coverage, but speaking very generally, hospitals don't like to go third-party coverage. So in an ER setting, advised to go self pay (any part of the claim that isn't covered by liability can be filed with the victim's health insurance secondary, if they have any), and in an elective setting (subsequent tests, surgeries), there would need to be some serious authorizations in place for a hospital to take the patient without cash on the barrel.

If the kid's parents both died in the accident and there's no family available, no one is going to delay treatment, esp. if the kid's condition is critical. He or she would get the treatment/surgery/etc., while staff and local law enforcement look high and low for family or legal guardians. Everything can be updated later, from family and contacts to insurance.

Hope that helps!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

They'll have whatever health insurance John had for the family, and just go from there *g* I just wanted to get a solid base of facts before I went any further, y'know? They have the emergency contact who then contacts Dean, and so on.

Thanks, Emmers :)