If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be nervous about the medical bills that could quickly pile up. You do have auto insurance and maybe even medical payments coverage, as well as health insurance. So, how does it all work together? Will your health insurance cover an auto accident?
Car insurance laws and health insurance laws vary from state to state. You’ll want to research your personal situation, but here is some general information on how it all works together.
Who Is Responsible for Medical Bills After an Accident?
After a car accident, someone is usually determined to be at fault. And this person, or their car insurance company, is usually responsible for paying the medical bills of people injured in the car accident.
How Do My Medical Bills Get Paid?
Several types of coverage can be used to cover medical expenses after a car accident.
State Mandated Minimums: Most states require minimum liability coverage that also covers injuries to drivers who are not found to be at fault for the accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP): In addition, if you carry personal injury protection, or PIP, you can use this to cover your own injuries no matter who is at fault.
Medical Payments Coverage: Medical payments is an additional coverage you can add to your policy for extra protection. It will pay your medical bills regardless of fault.
Health Insurance: In some cases, your health insurance will also cover your medical expenses. But, think carefully about how and when you use your health insurance coverage after a car accident.
Which Coverage Pays First?
If you have medical bills after an auto accident, the first coverages to kick in should be your PIP and medical payments coverage. Use these protections before you tap into your own health insurance coverage, especially if your health insurance policy requires you to pay a deductible. A deductible is the amount of money you must personally contribute before your insurance company starts to pay your bills. PIP and medical payments coverage do not require deductible payments, but health insurance usually does.
If your medical bills begin to exceed your auto insurance coverage limits, and you have exhausted the coverage of any other responsible parties, it may then be time to turn to your own health insurance coverage. The most important thing, after all, is that you get the medical attention you need.
While you can use your health insurance to pay for injuries related to your car accident, there are definitely advantages to adding PIP or Medical Payments coverage to your auto insurance policy.
When your ready to get some quotes for PIP and Medical Payments coverage, use the InsuranceWins form to see how little this added protection actually costs. We’ll help you find the right amount of coverage at the right price.