Best Medical Payments Insurance (MedPay)

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 personal 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.

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.

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.

The difference between medical payments coverage (MedPay) and PIP (personal injury protection) is that PIP covers both medical bills and non-medical expenses after an accident, like loss of income and childcare. By comparison, MedPay insurance only applies to direct medical costs and funeral expenses. Both types of insurance cover the policyholder and their passengers after any car accident, regardless of fault.

Medical Payments vs. PIP Insurance Coverage

Your ability to choose between PIP and MedPay depends mostly on your state. For example, just over half the states offer MedPay only, while other states allow you to purchase both types of coverage.

In states that offer both PIP and MedPay, you should consider purchasing them together. Even though they offer similar coverage, MedPay can cover deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that come with PIP, so the two can complement each other.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guides to medical payments coverage and personal injury protection.

Yes, car insurance covers medical bills after an accident. Bodily injury liability insurance covers other people's medical bills after a crash caused by the policyholder, while personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments insurance (MedPay) cover the policyholder's medical bills regardless of who was at fault. PIP and MedPay also apply to the policyholder's passengers and to named drivers who are hit by a car while walking or biking.

When Different Types of Car Insurance Cover Medical Bills

• Your PIP or MedPay insurance will cover your medical expenses if you are injured in an accident, no matter who was responsible.

• If another driver was at fault, their bodily injury liability coverage will pay for your medical bills.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance applies if the at-fault driver does not have insurance or does not have high enough liability limits to cover your expenses.

If you do not have coverage like PIP or MedPay, you can use your health insurance or pay out of pocket. For more information, check out WalletHub's guide to the different types of car insurance.

Yes, State Farm has MedPay in almost every state where it sells coverage. State Farm car insurance customers are required to purchase MedPay if they live in Maine or New Hampshire, and they cannot purchase it at all in Oregon, Minnesota, New York, or North Dakota. MedPay is optional everywhere else.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is a type of car insurance that covers a policyholder's medical bills after any accident regardless of fault. This coverage overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP) and health insurance, but it covers fewer expenses and is usually cheaper. Even if you already have PIP or health insurance, opting for State Farm MedPay could still be a good investment due to its low cost and ability to cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

State Farm does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it costs less than $10 per month on average. To purchase MedPay coverage from State Farm, you can go online or call 800-782-8332.

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

Yes, Allstate has MedPay in almost every state where it sells coverage. Allstate car insurance customers are required to purchase MedPay if they live in Maine or New Hampshire, and they cannot purchase it at all in Oregon, Minnesota, New York, or North Dakota. MedPay is optional everywhere else.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is a type of car insurance that covers a policyholder's medical bills after any accident regardless of fault. This coverage overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP) and health insurance, but it covers fewer expenses and is usually cheaper. Even if you already have PIP or health insurance, opting for Allstate MedPay could still be a good investment due to its low cost and ability to cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Allstate does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it costs less than $10 per month on average. To purchase MedPay coverage from Allstate, you can go online or call 1-800-676-5456.

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

Yes, car insurance covers injuries resulting from a car accident. Personal injury protection (PIP) and MedPay cover injuries if the policyholder was at fault, and if another driver was at fault, that driver's bodily injury liability coverage will apply up to their policy limits.

If you were at fault and do not have PIP or MedPay, you will likely need to pay out of pocket or rely on health insurance.

On the other hand, if the other driver was at fault but is uninsured or does not have enough liability insurance to cover your expenses, you can file a claim through uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance (UMBI), if you have that coverage.

Yes, USAA has MedPay in almost every state where it sells coverage. USAA car insurance customers are required to purchase MedPay if they live in Maine or New Hampshire, and they cannot purchase it at all in Oregon, Minnesota, New York, or North Dakota. MedPay is optional everywhere else.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is a type of car insurance that covers a policyholder's medical bills after any accident regardless of fault. This coverage overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP) and health insurance, but it covers fewer expenses and is usually cheaper. Even if you already have PIP or health insurance, opting for USAA MedPay could still be a good investment due to its low cost and ability to cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

USAA does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it costs less than $10 per month on average. To purchase MedPay coverage from USAA, you can go online or call 800-292-8045.

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

Yes, Geico has MedPay in almost every state where it sells coverage. Geico car insurance customers are required to purchase MedPay if they live in Maine or New Hampshire, and they cannot purchase it at all in Oregon, Minnesota, New York, or North Dakota. MedPay is optional everywhere else.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is a type of car insurance that covers a policyholder's medical bills after any accident regardless of fault. This coverage overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP) and health insurance, but it covers fewer expenses and is usually cheaper. Even if you already have PIP or health insurance, opting for Geico MedPay could still be a good investment due to its low cost and ability to cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Geico does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it costs less than $10 per month on average. To purchase MedPay coverage from Geico, you can go online or call (800) 207-7847.

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

Yes, Esurance has MedPay in almost every state where it sells coverage. Esurance car insurance customers are required to purchase MedPay if they live in Maine or New Hampshire, and they cannot purchase it at all in Oregon, Minnesota, New York, or North Dakota. MedPay is optional everywhere else.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) is a type of car insurance that covers a policyholder's medical bills after any accident regardless of fault. This coverage overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP) and health insurance, but it covers fewer expenses and is usually cheaper. Even if you already have PIP or health insurance, opting for Esurance MedPay could still be a good investment due to its low cost and ability to cover copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Esurance does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it costs less than $10 per month on average. To purchase MedPay coverage from Esurance, you can go online or call 1-800-378-7262.

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