Does Farmers have MedPay?

In auto insurance, the difference between medical payments and bodily injury coverage is that medical payments (MedPay) insurance covers the policyholder, while bodily injury coverage applies to a third-party. Liability insurance only ever pays for damage caused to others, but MedPay applies regardless of fault. In addition, bodily injury coverage is required in almost every state, while medical payments insurance is only required in Maine and New Hampshire.... read full answer

Medical Payments vs. Bodily Injury Auto Insurance Coverage

The bottom line is that bodily injury liability and medical payments auto insurance coverage pay for similar things but in different situations. You can only file a bodily injury claim with an at-fault driver's liability insurance. But if you cause the accident yourself, you need to file a claim with your own medical payments insurance, or with your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage if you don’t have MedPay.

Furthermore, medical payments insurance is often used as supplementary coverage to a health insurance plan, since MedPay can help you avoid expensive deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs. MedPay can also be used if the policyholder is walking or biking instead of driving when a collision occurs.

To file a Med Pay claim, start by notifying your car insurance company of the accident and giving your health care provider the details of your policy. Many hospitals and doctors will bill auto insurance policies directly, and even if they don’t, you will be reimbursed by your insurer.

If you have health insurance, you can use it to immediately cover your bills while you wait for your Med Pay claim to be approved. In some cases, your car insurance company will work directly with your health insurance to coordinate payment, meaning you won’t have to be heavily involved in the settlement process.... read full answer

How to File a Med Pay Claim

1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident.
2. Give the health care provider information about your Med Pay policy, as well as any health insurance you have.
3. Ask the health care provider if they will bill you or the insurance company if you’re in non-emergency care.
4. Document all of your medical expenses to send to your car insurance company if the health care provider is billing you directly.
5. Consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to assist you in dealing with insurers and health care providers.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guides to Med Pay and filing a car insurance claim.

You need $1,000 or $2,000 in medical payments (MedPay) coverage in the two states that require it: Maine and New Hampshire. If MedPay is optional in your state, the exact amount of MedPay that you need depends on a few factors, including what other types of insurance you have and how robust your emergency fund is. Even if you have overlapping coverage, like ... read full answerpersonal injury protection (PIP) or health insurance, MedPay is generally a good investment because it is inexpensive and complements other types of insurance.

How Much MedPay You Need by State

• New Hampshire: $1,000+ for drivers who choose to purchase coverage
• Maine: $2,000+
• Other States: optional

Medical payments coverage pays for your medical expenses after an accident regardless of who was at fault, so it usually overlaps with PIP and standard health insurance. But MedPay can also cover deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance expenses that come with other types of coverage, so it can help you avoid additional costs if you’re severely injured in an accident.

What to Consider Before Purchasing Medical Payments Coverage

When deciding how much MedPay you want to purchase, you should consider what types of coverage you already have and their associated costs. For example, if you have a high deductible health insurance policy, MedPay can help you reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses after an accident. And if you live in a state that requires PIP, MedPay can be used as a backup in case your policy limits are exhausted by severe injuries.

In addition to existing coverage (and state laws for those in Maine and New Hampshire), you should consider your financial situation when deciding whether or not to purchase MedPay. If you have a lot saved up for a rainy day, for instance, then it’s probably fine to skip the additional coverage. But considering that MedPay often costs less than $10 per month, the added peace of mind is usually worth the minor investment.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to medical payments coverage.