Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) in 2025 (Everything You Need to Know)
With rates starting at $4 per month, medical payments coverage is a cheap add-on for most policies. Medical payments car insurance pays for medical bills and some health care expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who was at fault. However, it doesn’t cover all related expenses.
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Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
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UPDATED: Feb 25, 2025
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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: Feb 25, 2025
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.
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Medical payments coverage is a valuable addition to your car insurance policy that pays for health care expenses after an accident.
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage isn’t available in every state, but it’s usually affordable where you can buy it. However, it doesn’t cover everything related to health care costs after an accident.
Read on to learn when you need medical payments coverage on your car insurance and if it’s the right choice for you. Then, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to see how much MedPay coverage costs in your area.
- Medical payments coverage pays for health care costs after an accident
- Starting at $4 per month, MedPay coverage is usually cheap
- MedPay insurance isn’t available in every state
Understanding Medical Payments Coverage Insurance
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is one of many types of auto insurance coverage that helps pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers after a car accident. Typically speaking, medical payments insurance covers the following:
- Hospital visits and stays
- Doctor’s visits
- Surgery and X-rays
- Ambulance fees
- Funeral expenses
Medical payments auto insurance covers these expenses you no matter who was at fault for the accident. In most cases, MedPay coverage is an optional addition to your policy and is not required in many states.
Auto insurance with medical payments coverage is useful because it can cover out-of-pocket expenses that health insurance might not, like your deductible or copays. However, it doesn’t cover all expenses related to a car accident, like lost wages.
What Medical Payments Coverage Does Not Cover
Car insurance with medical payments covers a lot, but it doesn’t handle everything related to health care costs after an accident. MedPay does not cover the following:
- Lost wages
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Injuries to people outside your vehicle
- Vehicle repairs
- Injuries sustained while committing a crime
You’re also limited to the amount of coverage available in your policy. The maximum limit of your policy is something you decide when you purchase it and has a direct impact on how much you pay per month.
Most companies offer a maximum of $10,000 worth of MedPay coverage per person. That means your policy would cover up to $10,000 in expenses per person in your car after an accident.Daniel Walker Licensed Auto Insurance Agent
Most states have a recommended amount of MedPay coverage that balances usefulness with affordability. For example, the best Arizona auto insurance experts recommend purchasing $5,000 worth of MedPay coverage.
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MedPay Coverage Rates
As far as getting the cheapest auto insurance goes, MedPay is one of the most affordable options you can add to your policy. Below, you can compare the average cost of MedPay coverage with personal injury protection, or PIP coverage.
Medical Payments Coverage vs. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Rates by Provider
| Company | PIP | MedPay |
|---|---|---|
 | $25 | $5 |
 | $30 | $6 |
 | $27 | $5 |
 | $20 | $4 |
 | $35 | $6 |
 | $22 | $5 |
 | $23 | $5 |
 | $24 | $5 |
 | $26 | $5 |
 | $21 | $5 |
As you can see, MedPay is typically on the inexpensive side. Finding the cheapest medical payments coverage is usually easy, as long as you compare rates with multiple companies.
If you don’t want to spend the time and effort to fill out request forms at multiple companies, you can use a free online quote-generating tool to look at multiple rates at once.
MedPay vs. Personal Injury Protection Insurance
Understanding the difference between personal injury protection insurance and MedPay can be confusing, but there are some key differences that can help you differentiate between them.
Medical Payments vs. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage Comparison
| Coverage Type | MedPay | PIP |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lost Wages | ❌ | ✅ |
| Funeral Expenses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Rehabilitation Costs | ❌ | ✅ |
| Essential Services | ❌ | ✅ |
While there are many differences between these coverage types, the basic idea is that PIP insurance covers a little more than MedPay. Finding the best personal injury protection auto insurance is usually easy, so long as you do a little research.
MedPay vs. Bodily Injury Liability
Although they cover similar things, medical payments coverage and bodily injury liability insurance are very different types of insurance.
The key difference between these types of insurance is that MedPay covers you and your passengers no matter who was at fault for an accident. Bodily injury liability only pays for injuries you cause to others in an at-fault accident. It never covers your injuries.
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MedPay vs. Health Insurance
Many drivers wonder if they should buy MedPay coverage if they already have health insurance. While health insurance often covers auto accident injuries, it’s not the same as having MedPay coverage.
One of the most important differences between MedPay coverage and health insurance is that MedPay pays for health care costs immediately, without copays or deductibles.Travis Thompson Licensed Insurance Agent
If you have a solid health insurance policy with low deductibles and copays, MedPay may not be necessary. However, it still offers valuable coverage. For example, your health insurance only covers you and your dependents, while MedPay covers everyone in your car.
Learn More: How long does an accident affect your auto insurance rate?
When to Buy Medical Payments Coverage
Are there medical payments insurance requirements for drivers? Currently, there are only two states that include MedPay coverage in their minimum auto insurance requirements: New Hampshire and Maine. In most other states, MedPay is an optional coverage.
However, some no-fault states prioritize personal injury protection insurance over MedPay. These include Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
Adding MedPay coverage to your policy can be a smart move in certain situations. MedPay coverage might be right if any of the following apply to you:
- You have a high-deductible health insurance plan
- You frequently drive with passengers
- You don’t have personal injury protection insurance
- You want extra financial protection
- You don’t want to use your health insurance
With MedPay rates typically costing a fraction of overall insurance premiums, it’s usually a good idea to add it if you think you might need it.
You might not need MedPay insurance if you have health insurance with low deductibles and copays, or if you live in a no-fault state.
Before you decide that you don’t need MedPay coverage, you should check your health insurance. Most policies cover injuries sustained in a car accident, but it’s always best to double-check before you decline MedPay coverage.
30,000 accidents occur each day in America. Most are preventable. Keep our roads safe and pledge to #DriveSafeToday. http://t.co/VAApZWeDgU
— Progressive (@progressive) September 3, 2015
With so many accidents happening all over America, having more health care coverage in your auto insurance is never a bad idea. Medical payments is an affordable option to add to your insurance policy that protects you from expensive health care expenses after an accident.
While it’s not right for everyone, most drivers benefit from adding MedPay coverage to their policy. When you’re ready to find the perfect policy for your needs, enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical payments coverage?
Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is optional auto insurance that helps cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, even in an at-fault accident. It pays for costs like hospital visits, ambulance fees, and surgery but does not cover lost wages or pain and suffering.
Which states require medical payments coverage?
Only Maine and New Hampshire require MedPay insurance, but it is optional in most states, especially those without Personal Injury Protection (PIP) laws.
How much medical payments coverage do you need?
MedPay coverage limits typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, but the right amount depends on your health insurance coverage and financial risk. If you have a high-deductible health plan or frequently drive with passengers, a higher MedPay limit may be beneficial.
Is medical payments coverage worth it?
MedPay is worth it if you want immediate coverage for accident-related medical bills without worrying about deductibles or copays. It’s especially useful if you lack health insurance or have high out-of-pocket costs for medical treatment. If you’re a driver wondering if your passengers are covered by auto insurance, MedPay is a good option for you.
Do you need medical payments coverage if you have health insurance?
If you have low-deductible health insurance, you may not need MedPay, but it can help cover copays, deductibles, and ambulance fees. MedPay is also useful if your health insurance has exclusions for auto accidents or requires reimbursement from settlements.
How much does MedPay coverage cost?
MedPay is relatively inexpensive, with rates starting as low as $4 per month, depending on your coverage limit and insurer. Since it has no deductible, it provides immediate financial relief after an accident. Enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to find the cheapest MedPay coverage in your area.
What is medical payments coverage in home insurance?
MedPay in homeowners insurance covers medical expenses if a guest is injured on your property, regardless of fault. It does not cover you or your household members but helps pay for minor injuries like slips, falls, or dog bites.
What’s the difference between MedPay and personal injury protection insurance?
MedPay covers only medical expenses, while personal injury protection (PIP) includes lost wages, rehabilitation, and essential services like childcare. PIP is required in no-fault states, whereas MedPay is optional in most states. While you can find cheap PIP auto insurance, it’s always more expensive than MedpPay coverage.
How do you file a Medical Payments claim?
To file a MedPay claim, submit your medical bills to your auto insurer along with accident details and any required forms. Your insurer will pay up to your policy limit, usually without needing to prove fault.
Do you need MedPay coverage if you have bodily injury liability insurance?
Yes, because bodily injury liability only covers the medical expenses of others if you’re at fault, not your own. MedPay ensures that your medical costs are covered, regardless of who caused the accident. MedPay is also much cheaper than bodily injury liability, with the cheapest liability-only auto insurance costing much more.
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Jimmy McMillan
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jimmy McMillan is an entrepreneur and the founder of HeartLifeInsurance.com, an independent insurance brokerage. His company specializes in insurance for people with heart problems. He knows personally how difficult it is to secure health and life insurance after a heart attack. Jimmy is a licensed insurance agent from coast to coast who has been featured on ValientCEO and the podcast Modern Li...
Licensed Insurance Agent
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.