More and more attorneys are recommending that their clients who receive pre-settlement funding take their pre-settlement funding through installment payment plans rather than as one lump-sum advance.  This is also known as a "rolling contract."  With payment installments, the costs to the plaintiff are lower, and the likelhood of responsible spending is higher. 

Recent changes to Medicare reporting requirements have created delays in the distribution of settlement checks to lawsuit plaintiffs and their attorneys.  The law was intended to minimize Medicare payment for claims.  The law imposes penalties for non-compliance.  The time it takes to receive payment has increased.  As a result, increasingly plaintiffs and plaintiffs' attorneys find themselves in need of pre-settlement funding and post-settlement funding, so that they can pay their medical, living, and business expenses.

Previously, lawsuit plaintiffs who received pre-settlement funding advances were often forced to pay high check-cashing fees when cashing their advances. They also had to wait for the check to arrive and take the time to get the check cashed.  Now they have better, cheaper, and more effective options in the form of pre-paid debit cards.  As a result, pre-paid debit cards are becoming the payment form of choice for pre-settlement funding.  There are many advantages to lawsuit plaintiffs receiving advances to distribution through pre-paid debit cards instead of checks or cash.