Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)

• Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) can help pay eligible accident-related medical expenses for you and other covered individuals, regardless of fault.
• MedPay is generally an optional addition to an auto insurance policy, although availability and requirements vary by state.
• Coverage may include ambulance services, hospital care, doctor visits, and other eligible medical expenses, subject to policy limits.
• MedPay and bodily injury liability serve different purposes. MedPay helps cover eligible medical expenses for insured individuals, while bodily injury liability generally covers injuries to others when you’re legally responsible for an accident.
• Coverage limits and additional premiums vary by insurer and state. Comparing available options can help you choose coverage that fits your needs and budget.

• Ambulance and emergency medical services
• Emergency room and hospital care
• Doctor visits
• Surgery
• X-rays and diagnostic services
• Nursing services
• Rehabilitation or other medically necessary treatment when covered
• Accident-related dental treatment
• Prosthetic devices
• Health insurance deductibles and copays when permitted
• Funeral expenses

Because MedPay generally applies regardless of fault, a covered person doesn’t necessarily need to establish that another driver caused the accident before making a claim.

• Lost wages
• Child care or household replacement services
• Medical treatment unrelated to the covered accident
• Vehicle repairs or other property damage
• Medical expenses above the MedPay coverage limit
• Injuries to occupants of another vehicle who aren’t insured under your policy
• Other expenses excluded by your policy

Other auto insurance coverages may address some of these gaps. Personal injury protection (PIP) may cover lost income and certain essential or replacement services. Bodily injury liability may cover injuries to other people when you’re legally responsible for an accident. Collision coverage may help pay for damage to your vehicle after a covered collision.

• The named insured or policyholder
• Passengers in the insured vehicle
• Certain resident family members or other insured people, depending on the policy

Coverage may also apply in some circumstances when you’re:

• Riding in another person’s vehicle
• Walking and struck by a vehicle
• Riding a bicycle and being struck by a vehicle, depending on policy terms

Coverage for passengers, household members, pedestrians, bicyclists, rideshare passengers, and other individuals varies by policy and state. Review your policy to determine who qualifies as a covered person.

1. The injured person receives necessary medical treatment.
2. The policyholder or other covered person reports a MedPay claim to the auto insurer.
3. The covered person submits medical bills, records, and other requested documentation.
4. The insurer reviews the claim and may pay or reimburse eligible expenses up to the applicable limit.

Because MedPay generally applies regardless of fault, you may be able to submit a claim without waiting for determination of who caused the accident. Depending on the insurer and policy, eligible expenses may be paid directly to medical providers or reimbursed to the covered person after the claim is reviewed. Coordination with health insurance varies by state and policy.

Does Medical Payments Coverage Have a Deductible?

MedPay generally doesn’t have an auto insurance deductible. This means you typically don’t have to pay a set amount of covered medical expenses before MedPay begins paying eligible costs.

That’s different from many health insurance policies, which may require you to meet a deductible before the health plan pays certain expenses. Depending on your policy and state, MedPay may help cover eligible health insurance deductibles or copays for an auto accident.

Example of How MedPay Works

Suppose a driver has a $5,000 MedPay limit, and the driver and a passenger are both injured in a covered accident. If the policy provides a $5,000 per-person limit, each covered person may have up to $5,000 available for eligible accident-related medical expenses. The exact payment would depend on each person’s expenses and the policy terms.

This is a hypothetical example. Available limits and coverage terms vary by insurer and state.

• Your health insurance deductible
• Health insurance copays and coinsurance
• Health plan exclusions or limitations for accident-related care
• Existing PIP or other first-party medical coverage
• Regular passengers or family members who may be covered
• Your ability to pay unexpected medical expenses out of pocket
• Available MedPay limits
• The additional premium for each limit

Someone with a high health insurance deductible may evaluate MedPay differently from someone with lower out-of-pocket health care costs. Reviewing both your health insurance and auto insurance policies can help you understand where MedPay may fit into your overall coverage.

• Types of Car Insurance: Explore common auto insurance coverages, including MedPay, PIP, liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage.
• Liability Car Insurance: Learn how liability coverage works and what it can help pay for after an at-fault accident.
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Understand how UM and UIM coverage may help after an accident with a driver who has little or no insurance.
• Full Coverage Car Insurance: Review how liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage commonly work together.
• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: Learn how bodily injury liability differs from first-party medical coverage such as MedPay.