Auto insurance can be confusing. There are different types of coverage that you can buy to protect you and your family in different circumstances. Some coverage types are used for fixing your car and other coverage types are used to pay expenses related to personal injury.
One of the more confusing types of coverage is called medical payments coverage (also known as medical expense coverage and sometimes just as med pay). Let’s take a look at what med pay coverage is and how it works on car insurance.
What is Med Pay coverage?
Med pay coverage is not available in all states. This is because each state has their own rules and regulations when it comes to auto insurance. Med pay is required in Maine and Pennsylvania. And while New Hampshire residents are not required to purchase traditional auto insurance, those who choose to do so are required to buy med pay coverage as well.
If you do have the option of purchasing medical payments coverage, you will be purchasing coverage for you or your passenger’s medical expenses related to an auto accident.
The good news is that med pay coverage can be used even if you were at fault for the accident. Causing an accident can invalidate some of your other coverage types, but with med pay you will still be covered.
What Does Medical Payments Insurance Cover?
As stated, each state that allows medical payment coverage is different, so make sure you check the rules in your state before you purchase.
Costs usually covered by med pay include:
- Ambulance charges
- Funeral costs
- Health insurance deductibles
- Medical, dental, surgical and chiropractic treatment of injuries to passengers in your car due to a car accident
- Treatment for injuries to you or your family members if they are pedestrians or riding in someone else’s car
What is Not Covered by Medical Payments Coverage?
Med pay coverage is focused on medical bills, so don’t expect to use this coverage to recover things like lost wages for missed work or childcare costs. These types of costs can be covered under Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
Is Med Pay Worth it?
Depending on your situation, med pay can help. For instance, you can use med pay to protect you if you exceed your health insurance plan limits or have charges not covered by your plan. It can also help cover your health insurance deductibles.
One other consideration is for drivers who frequently have non-family passengers in their car, such as carpoolers. Med pay could help with costs associated with injuries to passengers in your car at the time of an accident.
InsuranceWins’ auto insurance comparison tool can help you to compare prices for med pay. Just use our simple form to start receiving quotes from well-known auto insurance companies. Compare and see who can save you money!
