Claiming Your Future Medical Costs
The doctor has told you more treatment is coming, and you want that reflected in your claim now.
Future medical costs are claimed on a specialist’s written opinion. It should describe the treatment, why it is needed, and roughly what it involves. Your own expectation of what might happen is not enough.
For example, someone with a badly injured knee has one operation to steady the joint. The surgeon says a second procedure is likely in a year or two. That opinion, once written down, can support a separate part of the claim.
Why does a specialist’s opinion carry the weight?
A future cost is not worked out from a price list. It depends on medical evidence of what is expected to happen next.[1]
A passing remark at a routine appointment is weak. A clear written opinion is far stronger. Ask your specialist to set out the likely treatment, an estimate of timing, and why it is recommended.
What if your doctor is not fully certain?
Medicine rarely deals in certainties. A specialist can often only say how likely it is that more treatment will be needed.
That is normal. An honest description of the uncertainty helps your claim more than a confident guess either way.
Does ongoing therapy count?
Continuing physiotherapy or rehabilitation counts as a future cost. It must be expected to continue, and a professional must recommend it.
Keep a simple record of sessions attended so far. Note any recommendation on how much more is expected. This shows a real ongoing need.
What about equipment and aids?
A specialist may recommend a brace or other support. It can be claimed alongside the treatment. Aids and appliances explains how such items are usually supported.
When does a lawyer help?
Putting a price on treatment you have not yet had is the hard step, and insurers often resist it. An independent lawyer can request the specialist letter and present these costs as part of your claim. See claiming future medical and care costs and a road accident claim for how this fits together.
For a lawyer contact request, share the accident date, area, whether anyone was injured and the police report status; keep medical records for a later agreed discussion.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Can I claim for surgery I have not had yet?
Yes, where a specialist has recommended it and can describe why it is needed and roughly what it involves. It is assessed as a future cost on medical opinion. You do not have to pay for it first.
What if my doctor is not sure whether I will need more treatment?
Say so honestly rather than guessing. A specialist can often describe how likely further treatment is, and that assessment is what a future cost is built on.
Does ongoing physiotherapy count as a future medical cost?
Yes, if it is expected to continue and a medical professional supports that. Keep a record of sessions attended and any recommendation for how much more is expected.
Can I include equipment I will need, like a knee brace or a wheelchair?
Yes. Aids recommended by a specialist for an ongoing condition can be included with the cost of treatment. A written recommendation supports this better than a purchase you decided on your own.
Sources
- Civil Law Act 1956, s.28A (Attorney General's Chambers) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.