US Medical Term · financial
Lien
Gravamen
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Lien |
| Spanish (Español) | Gravamen |
| Chinese (中文) | 留置权 |
| Korean (한국어) | 유치권 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Quyền cầm giữ tài sản |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Lien |
| Portuguese (Português) | Penhora |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การกักทรัพย์สิน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 先取特権 |
What it means
In healthcare, a lien is a legal claim placed against your personal injury settlement, lawsuit proceeds, or estate to recover medical costs paid on your behalf. A Medicaid lien allows the state to seek reimbursement for Medicaid-covered care from your estate after death or from a personal injury settlement you receive. Hospitals and health insurers may file similar liens against injury settlements. Federal law limits certain Medicaid estate recovery practices—for instance, protecting a primary residence during a surviving spouse's lifetime in many states. If you receive a personal injury settlement, consult an attorney familiar with healthcare liens to negotiate or satisfy any outstanding claims before keeping the remaining funds.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
medical lien on your settlement
gravamen médico sobre su compensación
Medicaid estate recovery lien
gravamen de recuperación patrimonial de Medicaid
hospital lien on injury proceeds
gravamen hospitalario sobre indemnización por lesiones
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026