Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)

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.

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.

The types of car insurance that pay for your injuries after an accident are your own personal injury protection (PIP) and MedPay insurance or the other driver's liability insurance. Liability insurance pays if you were not at fault, while PIP and MedPay can pay for medical expenses regardless of who was at fault.

When Liability Insurance Pays for Injuries

In most states, the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability insurance covers your medical expenses after an accident up to a certain limit. Bodily injury liability insurance covers both medical expenses and lost wages for the victim in a crash, and it can provide protection for the policyholder if they are sued afterward by the victim.

When PIP Pays for Injuries

Personal injury protection (PIP), sometimes referred to as no-fault insurance, pays for the policyholder's medical expenses regardless of who was at fault for the accident. PIP can also cover other expenses resulting from the accident, like childcare and lost wages. PIP is required in 12 states and offered as an optional type of coverage in eight other states.

When MedPay Pays for Injuries

MedPay covers the policyholder's injuries regardless of who was at fault for the accident, much like PIP. However, it does not offer as many indirect benefits as PIP, such as coverage for lost income or childcare costs. MedPay is required for people with car insurance in Maine and New Hampshire, and it is offered as an optional type of coverage in over half of the states.

When Car Insurance Does Not Pay for Injuries

If you are at fault for an accident and do not have PIP or MedPay, you will have to rely on your own health insurance to cover any medical expenses.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to the different types of car insurance.    

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.

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.

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.

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.