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 on its own.
Ganesh injured his knee badly in a motorcycle accident near Kuching. He had an initial operation to stabilise the joint. His surgeon told him a second procedure was likely in a year or two.
That single sentence from his surgeon mattered. It became the basis for a separate part of his claim.
Why a specialist’s opinion carries the weight
A future cost is not calculated from a price list. It depends on medical evidence describing what is genuinely expected to happen next.[1]
A brief mention during a routine appointment is weak on its own. 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.
When your doctor is not fully certain
Medicine rarely deals in certainties. A specialist can often only describe a likely chance that further treatment will be needed.
That is normal. An honest description of that uncertainty helps your claim more than an overconfident prediction either way.
Ongoing therapy, not just future surgery
Continuing physiotherapy or rehabilitation counts as a future cost too. It needs to be expected to continue, and supported by a professional recommendation.
Keep a simple record of sessions attended so far. Note any recommendation for how much further treatment is expected. This shows a real ongoing need, not an open-ended guess.
Equipment and aids that go with treatment
A specialist may recommend equipment such as a brace or other support. This can be included alongside the treatment itself. Aids and appliances explains how this specific item is usually supported.
Once your specialist’s opinion is in writing, claiming future medical and care costs sets out how this fits alongside the rest of a road accident claim.
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. This is assessed as a future cost based on medical opinion, not something you have to pay for first and claim back afterward.
What if my doctor is not sure whether I will need more treatment?
Uncertainty is common and worth stating honestly rather than guessing either way. A specialist can often describe a likely range, such as a probability that further treatment will be needed, 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 so far and any recommendation for how much more is expected, since this pattern helps show the future need is genuine.
Can I include equipment I will need, like a knee brace or a wheelchair?
Yes, aids and equipment recommended by a specialist for an ongoing condition can be included as part of future costs, alongside treatment itself. A written recommendation, rather than something you decided to buy on your own, supports this best.
Sources
- Civil Law Act 1956, s.28A (Attorney General's Chambers) (accessed 2026-09-22)