Do you need medical payment coverage on auto insurance?
Your auto insurance will cover medical expenses if you get in an accident up to your policy's maximum. The extent depends on the type and amount of coverage you have.
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Tracey L. Wells
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Three million people are injured in six million car accidents each year. Due to this, 49 of the 50 states mandate that all drivers carry auto insurance with at least liability coverage.
When you are in an accident, it can be frightening, and paying for medical care may be the last thing on your mind. But does auto insurance cover medical expenses after an auto accident? Let’s look more closely.
- Medical expense coverage will help more than hurt when adding it to your policy
- There are different forms of medical payments insurance, so be sure to research which one fits your needs
- Liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage typically do not cover medical expenses
Do you need medical payments coverage on your car insurance?
So, what does medical coverage on an auto insurance policy cover? Your car insurance will help cover your medical bills up to your policy’s maximum, but the extent depends on the type and amount of coverage you have.
Liability-only and full coverage are the two options for car insurance. Each has various coverage requirements, including varying insurance minimums and certain medical coverages on auto insurance. Find out if liability covers passengers injured in a car accident.
Liability Coverage and Medical Payments Auto Insurance
Property damage and physical injuries are frequently covered separately under liability auto insurance. Damages you cause to another person’s vehicle or tangible property are covered under the property damage section. The part relating to bodily injury is what matters to us right now.
When you cause an accident, your bodily injury liability insurance can cover medical bills for accident-related injuries, lost wages from the accident, legal charges, and, in some situations, burial costs for the other driver and occupants of the other car.
On the other hand, if the other driver were found to be at fault in an accident and you were hurt, their bodily injury liability insurance would pay your medical expenses up to the limits of their policy.
If you merely have liability insurance, on the other hand, it won’t cover any vehicle damage or medical costs for you and your passengers. You would require full coverage car insurance for that.
Full Coverage and Medical Car Insurance Coverage
All liability coverage is included in full coverage auto insurance, but it also provides coverage for your car and medical expenses if you cause an accident.
You are liable for your own automobile and injuries if you cause an accident and just have liability insurance. Additionally, full coverage may come with other benefits, like roadside assistance, that boost your policy’s security and peace of mind.
Full coverage is more expensive because it protects you as well as the other driver in a collision. However, knowing you’re protected to the full extent of your insurance can be valuable. Additionally, the cost might be pretty affordable depending on your car and driving record.
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PIP Insurance Coverage: What is it?
If no one is at fault or you reside in a no-fault state, personal injury protection (PIP) is the portion of your insurance that covers your injuries and those of your passengers in a vehicle accident.
PIP pays for direct accident-related costs like medical bills, lost earnings, and death benefits. It also protects you if you are a passenger in a collision.
Every insurance policy we’ve discussed up to this point has been for “at fault” or accident-caused situations. What happens if nobody is to blame or if you reside in a “no-fault” state? PIP steps in at this point.
How does PIP insurance work?
It doesn’t matter who causes an accident in a no-fault insurance state. In a no-fault state, it is hoped that each driver will have their own insurance, reducing the number of claims and lawsuits filed against other drivers and their insurance providers. Learn more about how no-fault auto insurance works.
PIP is essential in no-fault states because you cannot depend on the other driver to pay with their liability coverage.
If you have PIP, you can file an auto insurance claim with your own insurance company following an accident to get paid for your injuries and medical costs. Even if the other driver doesn’t have insurance, PIP policyholders can still receive benefits.
Is PIP insurance required?
Sixteen states, including all twelve no-fault states, require PIP as a component of motor insurance:
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
You need PIP insurance if you reside in one of the aforementioned states.
If it’s not required in your state, having PIP car insurance can be beneficial, even with health insurance. For instance, it can cover any remaining costs before your health insurance kicks in when you’re hurt in an accident, and the other driver’s liability insurance is unable to fully cover your medical bills.
What does medical payments cover on auto insurance?
Do you need medical coverage on car insurance? Whether you should keep medical coverage on your car insurance depends on your needs. MedPay is an optional plan that gives you additional money for medical expenditures for you and your passengers in an accident.
You can use MedPay to cover a variety of expenses:
- Health insurance costs, such as deductibles and copays
- Ambulance rides and hospital stays
- X-rays, surgery, and artificial limbs or components
- Medical facility fees
- Specialized nursing and rehabilitation care
MedPay typically only provides a limited amount of coverage — between $2,000 and $5,000. Sometimes this is sufficient to pay for deductibles and copays that you might otherwise have to pay out-of-pocket. Still, you may require higher limits to cover expenses your health insurance plan expressly excludes.
What distinguishes personal injury protection from medical payments coverage?
MedPay, like PIP, assists in covering your or your passengers’ medical costs following an automobile collision, whoever was at fault.
However, there are three fundamental distinctions between PIP and MedPay:
- PIP is required in no-fault states, vs. MedPay is always optional coverage
- Tort (at-fault) states offer optional MedPay coverage vs. PIP is not always available in tort states
- PIP offers additional financial coverage for lost wages, essential services, and funeral costs vs. MedPay strictly covers medical bills
Depending on where you live, you might be required to carry PIP over MedPay. Check your state insurance laws to find out which kind of insurance you need to cover medical expenses in an accident.
Medical Payments on Auto Insurance vs. Bodily Injury Liability vs. PIP
You can receive compensation for injuries brought on by an automobile collision in three distinct ways:
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
Depending on your jurisdiction’s insurance laws and regulations, PIP may be necessary, optional, or unavailable. Depending on where you reside, it may cost as little as $3,000 or as much as $250,000. PIP can also be used to cover extenuating expenses that are related to the accident, such as missed wages resulting from your injuries.
MedPay Coverage
No matter who was at blame for the collision, MedPay is an optional coverage that you can use to cover your and your passengers’ medical costs. This could be useful if you caused an accident, in which case liability coverage won’t cover the cost of your injuries.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Liability insurance does not cover your injuries. Bodily injury coverage only covers the other driver and their passengers, which is the main distinction between it and the other coverages mentioned above.
By covering the medical costs, pain and suffering, funeral fees, and other costs suffered by the driver and passengers of the other vehicle, bodily injury liability coverage safeguards your finances in the event that you are found to be at fault in an accident.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that you will still be liable for any damages you cause in an accident if you don’t have bodily injury liability insurance or carry insufficient limits.
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What happens if auto insurance does not offer medical coverage?
There are rare instances in which an insurance company will reject a claim for injuries. For instance, if your accident occurred while you were driving illegally or against the law, your insurance provider can decide to reject your claim because you broke the terms of your contract.
What do you do if the auto insurance company denies your claim? Follow these steps:
- Utilize your extra insurance. If someone hits you and their insurance company rejects your claim, PIP or MedPay can assist you in covering your medical expenses.
- Use your health insurance. If you are not eligible for any auto insurance coverage, file a claim with your health insurance. Car accidents can take months or even years to resolve, and you can submit claims to your health insurance in the meantime. Insurance companies will determine who needs to be reimbursed once the dust has cleared.
- Go to court. You can sue the insurance company or the other driver if you think it wrongfully rejected your claim or they were driving illegally. However, this isn’t a guarantee, and it can take years. Learn how to appeal an auto insurance claim.
- Negotiate your expenses. If your auto insurance company has rejected your claim and you don’t have health insurance, you might be able to negotiate your bills with the hospital or come up with a payment plan.
We recommend working with an attorney if you have a particularly stubborn insurance company or devastating accident. They will be well-versed in your state’s insurance laws and can give you proper guidance on what to do next if your insurance company denies your medical claim.
The Bottom Line on Auto Insurance and Medical Expenses
After a car accident, personal injury protection assists with the cost of a funeral, lost wages, and medical care. This type of extra auto insurance normally provides coverage for the policyholder, family members operating the vehicle, and passengers.
No matter who is at fault, both PIP and MedPay coverage will cover medical expenses in an accident. Your medical payments coverage also remains in effect if you’re walking, riding in a friend’s automobile, or taking public transportation.
However, MedPay and PIP aren’t applicable in all circumstances. For instance, your car’s accessories, such as trailers or other equipment, are not protected. You will need collision and comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical payments on auto insurance?
Medical payments coverage, often referred to as MedPay, is a type of auto insurance coverage that helps pay for medical expenses resulting from a car accident.
How does medical payments on auto insurance work?
When you have medical payments coverage on your auto insurance policy and you or your passengers are injured in a car accident, the coverage helps pay for medical expenses up to the policy’s limits.
Is medical coverage necessary for auto insurance?
Medical payments on car insurance is not necessary, but it can be a valuable addition to your auto insurance policy.
Is medical payments coverage worth it?
Whether medical payments on auto insurance is worth it depends on your needs. If you have health insurance that provides comprehensive coverage for medical expenses resulting from car accidents, you may not need additional medical payments coverage. However, if you have high deductibles or limited health insurance coverage, medical payments coverage can be valuable.
Do you need health insurance to get car insurance?
Health insurance is not typically required to purchase car insurance. Medical payments coverage on car insurance is separate from health insurance policies.
Do I need medical coverage on my auto insurance if i have health insurance or personal injury protection?
Because these three coverages overlap, the answer depends on how your health insurance policy is set up and where you live. Even if you have health insurance and personal injury protection, consider purchasing medical payments coverage.
How much medical payments coverage do I need on my auto insurance?
Depending on the state you live in, MedPay has varied minimum amounts. Nonetheless, the most you may often receive is $25,000 per accident. The easiest way to decide how much coverage you require is to consider your financial status and your state’s requirements.
How much medical payment coverage should I add to my auto insurance?
Consider any existing medical coverage you may have as a good place to start. Health insurance is one example of what falls under this. With such knowledge, you are better equipped to decide how much coverage you might need. should add to my auto insurance
Do car insurance companies cover medical bills?
Medical expenditures are not directly paid by auto insurance providers. You should anticipate receiving reimbursement from your bodily injury compensation if your health insurance covers your medical costs.
Do collision or comprehensive insurance policies cover medical expenses?
No, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that wasn’t the result of an accident, such as theft or fire. When your car collides with another car or fixed object, collision insurance covers the resulting damage to your car.
Why should I get medical payments coverage on my auto insurance policy?
There are several reasons to consider adding medical payment coverage to your auto insurance policy:
- Additional protection: Medical payment coverage can provide an extra layer of financial protection by covering medical expenses resulting from car accident injuries, regardless of fault.
- Quick payment: MedPay coverage often pays medical expenses promptly, regardless of ongoing legal proceedings or liability determinations.
- Limited coverage: In some cases, health insurance policies may have exclusions or limitations for injuries resulting from car accidents. MedPay can help fill in those gaps and provide coverage specifically for auto-related injuries.
- Coverage for passengers: MedPay typically extends coverage to passengers in your vehicle, ensuring they have access to medical benefits if they are injured in an accident.
What expenses does medical payment coverage typically cover?
Medical payment coverage generally helps cover a range of medical expenses resulting from a car accident, such as:
- Hospital bills
- Doctor visits
- Emergency medical services
- Surgery and anesthesia
- X-rays and diagnostic tests
- Ambulance services
- Prescription medications
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
Does medical payment coverage replace health insurance?
No, medical payment coverage does not replace health insurance. It is designed to work alongside your health insurance policy. MedPay can provide coverage for medical expenses related to car accident injuries that may not be covered or fully covered by your health insurance. It can help cover deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs associated with car accident injuries.
Is medical payment coverage expensive?
The cost of medical payment coverage varies depending on several factors, including your location, the coverage limits you choose, and your insurance provider. However, in general, medical payment coverage is relatively affordable compared to other auto insurance coverages. It’s best to contact your insurance provider for specific pricing details and to evaluate the cost-benefit based on your individual needs.
Does full coverage insurance cover medical bills?
While it provides coverage for damage to your vehicle, it does not usually include coverage for medical bills.
Does car insurance cover health care?
Car insurance primarily covers damage to vehicles and liability for injuries or property damage resulting from car accidents.
Does car insurance cover hospital bills?
Car insurance may cover hospital bills if you have medical payments coverage or personal injury protection on your policy.
What medical conditions do you have to declare for car insurance?
When applying for car insurance, you may be required to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive safely. Common examples include conditions that may cause seizures, loss of consciousness, or impairments that could impact your driving ability.
What are some examples of when auto insurance would be used over health care insurance to pay for medical care?
In some cases, auto insurance may be preferred over health care insurance for car accident-related injuries to avoid deductibles or copayments associated with health insurance coverage. Additionally, auto insurance may cover expenses such as rehabilitation, lost wages, and funeral costs related to a car accident.
What is medical portion of auto insurance premiums?
The medical portion of auto insurance premiums typically refers to medical payments coverage or personal injury protection (PIP).
How to find the medical portion of auto insurance premiums?
You can find information about your automobile insurance premiums for medical coverage in the declarations page of your auto insurance policy. You can also contact your insurance agent or insurer directly for specific details about your policy’s medical coverage.
Do I need to tell car insurance about a medical condition?
Yes, you have to inform your car insurance company of any medical conditions that could potentially affect your ability to drive safely.
What type of car insurance does a person need to cover the medical expenses of a passenger in the event of an accident?
You will need to have either Medical Payments Coverage or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your vehicle insurance to cover the medical expenses of passengers in the event of an accident.
What is Medical payments coverage on car insurance in California?
Car insurance policies in California typically include Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay), which helps pay for medical expenses resulting from a car accident, regardless of who is at fault.
Is MedPay required in California?
MedPay is not required by law in California, but it’s available as an optional coverage
Do you have to have Medical coverage in California?
MedPay coverage is not mandatory for residents of California.
How does MedPay work in Colorado?
In Colorado, Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) is an optional coverage that can be added to your auto insurance to protect you against cost of your own medical bills if you are involved in a car accident.
Who pays medical bills in car accidents in Colorado?
In Colorado, the at-fault driver’s auto insurance typically pays for medical expenses resulting from a car accident. However, if you have Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your own policy, it can help cover medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of fault.
Is Colorado a PIP or MedPay state?
Colorado offers both Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) as optional coverages.
What does MedPay cover in Florida?
MedPay coverage typically includes expenses such as hospital bills, surgery costs, doctor visits, and funeral expenses for you, your passengers, or pedestrians injured in the accident.
Does Nevada have MedPay?
Yes, Nevada allows insurers to offer Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) as an optional coverage on auto insurance policies.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Tracey L. Wells
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.