Most doctors have taken care of patients who were medically impacted by their illegal act. Some of these patients actually have third party insurance. I know, you’re skeptical. OK, how about a rock star who overdoses? Maybe he’s not come to your ER. But, he came to someone’s ER.
Dzokhar Tsarneav, another criminal, was transported to a hospital to be treated – probably at great cost – for injuries sustained in a gun battle with the police. This issue brings into focus the problems physicians face in getting an insurer to cover patients for what they brought on themselves through illegal acts.
The basic rule of insurance is carriers will not cover an insured for intentional illegal acts. Insurers will cover patients for harm resulting from their illegal act IF that crime was not intended. Therefore, if a driver is injured while trying to run down his neighbor that driver will not be covered. But if the driver drove while drunk – itself an illegal act but without intention to commit a crime – he would be covered for injuries he sustained when he crashes into a lamppost.
