When you settle an injury claim, the people who paid your medical bills often have a legal right to be repaid out of the money: a health plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or a hospital. Medicare and Medicaid recovery follow federal rules, while most claims by private insurers and hospitals depend largely on state law, including doctrines such as the made-whole rule, although some employer-funded plans are governed by federal law instead. Pick a state below for a real answer, cited to the relevant law.
Each state page below explains how liens and subrogation claims work in that state, how Medicare and Medicaid recovery differs from private insurer and hospital liens, where the made-whole doctrine applies, and how repayment reduces what you actually keep. Every legal figure is tied to a cited source — see our methodology for how we verify each one.
Every state page provides general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on cited state statutes or common-law standards, verified per our methodology. Confirm how the law applies to your specific situation with a licensed attorney in your state before acting.