Medical Liens vs. Pre-Settlement Funding: What’s the Difference? If you have an open California personal injury case, you have probably heard two different phrases that sound like they solve the same problem: a medical lien (sometimes called a letter of protection) and pre-settlement funding. They are not the same thing, and mixing them up can lead to confusion about what you actually owe at the end of your case. Understanding both, and how they interact, makes the rest of yo