After a serious accident, you may face mounting medical bills while your injury claim remains unresolved. Letters of protection (LOPs) provide a solution, allowing you to receive necessary medical treatment with payment deferred until your case settles.

What Is a Letter of Protection?

A letter of protection is a written agreement between your attorney, you, and a healthcare provider. The document guarantees payment for medical services from your eventual settlement proceeds, allowing you to receive treatment immediately without upfront payment or insurance authorization.

How LOPs Work

Your attorney sends the letter to medical providers, promising they’ll be paid from your settlement or verdict. Providers agree to treat you and wait for payment until your case concludes. This arrangement ensures you get necessary care while building medical documentation that strengthens your injury claim.

Who Accepts Letters of Protection?

Many doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, imaging centers, and specialists accept LOPs for accident-related treatment. However, hospitals and emergency rooms typically don’t accept them, requiring payment through insurance or other means for immediate emergency care.

Benefits and Drawbacks

LOPs enable treatment access when you lack insurance or have exhausted policy limits. They also prevent medical collection actions during your case. However, providers may charge higher rates for LOP patients, and you’re personally responsible for bills if your case doesn’t recover compensation.

Your Obligations

You remain ultimately responsible for medical bills covered by letters of protection. If your case loses or settles for less than expected, you still owe providers for services rendered. Understanding this obligation helps you make informed decisions about treatment necessity.

Working with Your Attorney

Discuss LOP arrangements with your attorney before agreeing to treatment. They can evaluate whether proposed treatment is reasonable, necessary, and likely to be recoverable in your case, helping you avoid excessive medical bills that reduce your net settlement.