Our personal auto insured had a heart attack while driving his car and had a collision with another vehicle. He was carried by ambulance to a local hospital, was treated, but died the same day. The insurance company has denied coverage of any medical bills saying that the auto accident did not cause the heart attack whereas the medical payments agreement promises to pay for medical services made necessary by accident.
It is our contention that the ambulance bill and medical attention in the emergency room ought to be reimbursed. With $3,000 in collision damage to the insured's car, it stands to reason that the insured would have required medical attention.
New York Subscriber
The insured's estate should ask for a statement from the ambulance attendants and medical personnel in the emergency room to determine the extent of the bodily injury from the accident. Occupants often do walk away from serious accidents with only bruises and sprains, and very little in the way of medical expenses. It is at least possible that such was the case here and all the service was entirely focused on the heart condition. If there was bodily injury from the accident, on the other hand, the PAP medical pay coverage should respond to the expenses incurred because of it. If the insured's injuries from the collision were such as to require ambulance service, the coincidental heart attack does not relieve the insurer of its obligations to respond.
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