Auto Insurance Claims: PIP Claim Check, auto insurance company, check answer

Question
QUESTION: I just receive my PIP check from our Auto Insurance company from my accident last year. The check has my name AND the hospital in which I was seen at, name on it as well. Am I able to take and cash that check?

ANSWER: Hi Kara,
With both your name and the name of the hospital on the check, you will NOT be able to cash or deposit the check.
Contact the hospital, if there is no outstanding balance on your account there, they will endorse the check and you will then be able to deposit it in your bank.
If there is still an outstanding balance on your bill from the hospital, they will want payment in full before endorsing the check.
This can be accomplished by paying the hospital direct or endorsing the check over to them and have them deduct any remaining balance that may be on your bill and they will give you a check for the difference.
I hope this information has been of help.
Your feedback by rating my answer will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bennie,

Thank you for your timely response! I do have some other questions regarding that.

This claim was processed through my fathers Auto Insurance. We received a notice that his insurance has already issued at $15,000 payment directly to the hospital. I'm not sure if that was part of the PIP? Now they have sent me this $10,000 check that I previously questioned you about. Why, in normal cases would they do that? I would think that they would send a total amount of $25,000 to the hospital.

Aside from that, I still have outstanding bills payable to outside sources, i.e. Ambulance, Physical Therapy, home mobile supplies, X-ray etc.. Would I have to speak to the hospital to try to put part of that $10,000 towards those collections?

I know this is a loaded email, with several questions. Does it make sense? Your input would be helpful!

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Kara,
The PIP coverage from your fathers policy is obligated to pay ALL of your medical bills, not to exceed the maximum limit of coverage for PIP on your fathers policy.  If your bills exceed the PIP maximum coverage, you will need to turn to your private health insurance for payment of the balance and there may be deductibles and co-payments.

As I explained earlier, if your balance owed at the hospital is less than $10,000, they will refund the excess amount of the check to you.
You can then pay the other bills.
If they are still owed the entire $10,000, then you will need to submit the ambulance, physical therapy bills etc. to your private health insurance, unless your father carried more than $25,000 PIP coverage, in which case PIP will continue making payments of the other bills.
Sincerely,
Bennie