A letter of protection (LOP) is a written agreement where your attorney promises a medical provider that your bills will be paid from your case settlement. It lets you get care now and defer payment until the case resolves. It is a legal document, not a guarantee of any settlement amount or outcome.
If you’ve been in a car accident and someone handed you a form called a “letter of protection,” you probably had the same reaction most people do. What is this, and what am I agreeing to?
Here’s what we’re hearing from patients who walk in with that question: they’re hurting, their PIP coverage is gone or was never there, and an attorney said this piece of paper would let them get treated anyway. That’s a lot to take in while your neck still hurts from the wreck. Let’s slow it down and walk through it in plain words. For the legal side, your attorney is the right person to ask. We can explain the care side clearly.
If you want to talk it through in person, you can also reach an auto accident chiropractor in Clermont who works with LOPs regularly.
What a letter of protection actually is
A letter of protection is a signed agreement between three people: you, your attorney, and your medical provider. Your attorney promises the provider that your medical bills will be paid out of your case settlement. In exchange, the provider agrees to treat you now and wait for payment. The American Bar Association describes similar arrangements as a way for injured people to access care while a claim is pending.
So three parties, three roles. You get care and agree that part of any future settlement goes toward your bills. Your attorney handles the legal promise and the paperwork. The provider treats you and holds the billing until the case ends.
One thing to be clear about. An LOP does not promise a specific dollar amount, and it has nothing to do with how big your claim might be. It’s about covering the care you actually need. When you sign it, you’re assigning a portion of any eventual settlement to cover your outstanding balance. That’s the whole arrangement.
When an LOP typically comes up
An LOP usually comes up when Florida PIP is gone or was never available. PIP covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 for people seen by a provider within 14 days of the accident. When that runs out, or when it was never an option, an LOP can fill the gap.
Here are the common situations we see:
- You’ve used up or exceeded the $10,000 PIP limit and still need treatment.
- You had no active PIP policy, or you were a passenger in someone else’s vehicle.
- You weren’t seen within the 14-day window, so PIP is no longer accessible.
- Your injury needs ongoing care beyond what PIP would cover.
- Your attorney believes your bodily injury claim has merit and wants your treatment documented.
One honest note. An LOP is not the first thing we reach for. PIP is always addressed first. The LOP exists for the moment PIP can’t carry the rest.
How it works in practice, step by step
With an LOP, your attorney drafts the document, you sign it, and the practice defers your billing until the case resolves. Bills accumulate and get documented along the way. When the case settles, the provider is paid from the settlement proceeds before you receive your portion.
Walking through it in order:
- Your attorney drafts the LOP and sends it to our office. You review and sign it.
- We agree to provide care and hold the billing until your case resolves.
- Your bills build up over the course of treatment, documented carefully. Clean records matter here, for your health and for your case.
- When the case settles, your attorney disburses the funds. The medical provider gets paid from the settlement before the remainder reaches you.
And the part that gets buried too often, so we’ll say it straight: if your case doesn’t settle or you lose, you still owe the balance. That has to be understood before you sign, not discovered after.
We handle the LOP paperwork and coordinate with your attorney’s office. Your job is to focus on getting better.
What to ask before you sign an LOP
Before you sign an LOP, ask your attorney what you owe if the case doesn’t settle. Ask your medical provider whether they’ll explain the balance before care starts and give you an itemized bill. An LOP does not make care free. It defers payment and ties it to the settlement.
A few questions worth asking out loud:
- To your attorney: what does this say I owe if the case doesn’t resolve in my favor?
- To the provider: will you explain any balance to me before care begins, and will I get an itemized bill?
- Is there a lien reduction process, and has my attorney worked with this provider before?
Here’s the billing language we use, and you can hold us to it: with a letter of protection, your attorney agrees that your medical bills will be paid from your case settlement, and we explain any balance before your care starts.
The LOP is a legal document. Your attorney is the right person to explain its terms. We can explain what your care will look like, not the law behind the paper.
LOP versus PIP: how they fit together
PIP and an LOP are two different things that often work in sequence. PIP is Florida’s no-fault insurance, covering 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 when you’re seen within 14 days of the accident. An LOP is a separate arrangement used when PIP is exhausted or unavailable. The Florida Department of Financial Services explains how PIP coverage works for drivers in the state.
Here’s a simple way to see the difference:
| | PIP | Letter of protection |
|—|—|—|
| What it is | No-fault auto insurance | Legal agreement with your attorney |
| Who pays | Your insurer | Paid from your settlement |
| Coverage | 80% up to $10,000 | Depends on the settlement |
| When used | First, within 14 days | After PIP runs out or is unavailable |
Plenty of patients use both. PIP covers the first stretch of care, and the LOP covers treatment once PIP runs dry. Neither one is a path to a bigger payout. The only purpose of either is covering care you actually need. If you’re unsure which applies to you, ask your attorney first, then ask our front desk.
What we do, and what’s outside our role
Taylor-Made Health and Wellness accepts letters of protection for auto accident patients and coordinates directly with the attorney’s office. We explain the billing arrangement in plain words before care begins, so there are no surprises. We’ve been doing this work in Clermont since 2012, with Dr. JP Silvera practicing chiropractic since 2007.
What we do: we treat what we find, document it thoroughly, and keep records clean for both your health file and your attorney’s case file. We serve patients in English and Spanish, and we don’t rush you through the room.
What we don’t do, and we’ll say it plainly: we don’t advise you on the legal terms of your LOP. That’s your attorney’s job. We don’t predict or recommend settlement amounts. And if your injuries need care outside chiropractic and physiotherapy, we tell you and point you to the right provider. Naming our limits honestly is part of how we earn your trust. For auto accident patients across Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, and Winter Garden, that’s the whole approach.
Questions patients ask us most about LOPs
These are real questions people ask at the front desk, and every one deserves a straight answer before care starts.
Will I get a bill right now? No. Under an LOP, your billing is deferred until the case resolves. You won’t be paying out of pocket during treatment, though you should understand the balance is still accruing and will be settled later.
What if my case takes a long time? Care continues as long as it’s medically necessary. The billing timeline follows your case, so a longer case simply means a longer wait before the balance is settled.
What if I don’t have an attorney yet? Talk to one before signing anything. An LOP is a legal agreement, and it needs attorney involvement to work the way it’s meant to.
What if my case doesn’t settle? Then you remain responsible for the balance. We won’t soften that, because it’s the part you most need to know before you sign.
Do I need an LOP if I have PIP? Only if your PIP is exhausted or unavailable. We’ll tell you which applies to your situation.
Key takeaways
- A letter of protection is a signed agreement where your attorney promises a provider that your bills will be paid from your settlement.
- An LOP defers payment. It does not make care free, and it doesn’t guarantee any settlement amount.
- It usually comes up when Florida PIP is exhausted or was never available.
- PIP is always billed first. The LOP fills the gap afterward.
- If your case doesn’t settle, you still owe the balance. Ask your attorney what that means for you before signing.
- Your attorney explains the legal terms. The practice explains the care.
FAQ
What is a letter of protection for medical care?
A letter of protection is a written agreement where your attorney promises a medical provider that your bills will be paid from your case settlement. It lets you get care now and defer payment until the case ends. It is a legal document, not a promise of any settlement amount.
Does a letter of protection mean my care is free?
No. An LOP defers your payment, it doesn’t erase it. Your medical bills are paid from your settlement when the case resolves. If the case doesn’t settle, you remain responsible for the balance. A good provider explains the arrangement and any balance before your care starts.
How is an LOP different from PIP in Florida?
PIP is Florida’s no-fault auto insurance, covering 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 for people seen within 14 days of the accident. An LOP is a separate legal agreement with your attorney, used when PIP is exhausted or unavailable. PIP is always billed first, and the LOP fills the gap.
Who pays my bills under a letter of protection?
Your medical bills are paid from your case settlement. When the case resolves, your attorney disburses the funds and the medical provider is paid before the remaining amount reaches you. If your case doesn’t settle, the responsibility for the balance falls back to you, which is why your attorney should explain the terms before you sign.
Can I get chiropractic care after an accident if I have no insurance?
Yes, an LOP can make that possible. If you have no PIP and no other coverage but you have an attorney handling a bodily injury claim, an LOP lets a provider treat you now and wait for payment from the settlement. Talk to an attorney before signing, since the LOP is a legal agreement.
If you have questions about how a letter of protection works, or whether it applies to your situation, come in and we’ll walk you through it. Bring whatever paperwork you have, or come with nothing at all, and we’ll figure it out together. Spanish-first? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person will answer.
This article is general information about chiropractic care and auto accident billing, not legal or medical advice. For the legal terms of any letter of protection, talk to your attorney.
