What is Med Pay?

Med Pay, short for Medical Payments, is a coverage offered to help protect the injured in an auto accident, regardless of who caused the accident. If you’re involved in an auto accident, chances are high that you and other passengers will sustain some sort of personal injury as a result. Med Pay can help cover the costs of diagnosing and treating those injuries.

Why get Med Pay?

When shopping for car insurance, it’s easy to think only about coverage for your repairing or replacing your vehicle. But don’t forget about the bodies inside the vehicle! Med Pay helps provide coverage for the injuries sustained by the people in the car, an often overlooked but important coverage with auto insurance.

You may be surprised to learn that your automobile insurance already includes Med Pay. To find out, check your policy or contact your provider, and ask a car accident lawyer Central Phoenix, AZ relies on to help you with any questions.

What does Med Pay Cover?

Depending on your policy, Med Pay may cover:

  • Ambulance Rides
  • Medical/Surgical Expenses
  • Dental Expenses
  • Chiropractic Services
  • Hospital Stays
  • X-rays
  • Funeral Expenses
  • Injuries Sustained While a Pedestrian or Bicyclist

How does Med Pay Work?

In general, Med Pay works as a supplemental health insurance. It is intended to be an immediate coverage and is often the first form of a payment for an auto accident.

For example: You are driving down a two-lane highway late one night when a deer jumps out in front of your car. To avoid hitting it, you swerve to the left and the car hits a tree. You hit your arm on the steering wheel and your spouse banged their head on the window.  Using your Med Pay, you can cover the medical costs of treating both your injuries and your spouse’s. There is, however, always a dollar limit and the coverage won’t last forever.

Using the above example, let’s say that your Med Pay limit is $5,000 per person, and the emergency room visit and subsequent treatment for you and your spouse has come in at $6,000 each.  Med Pay will cover the first $5,000 for both of you, but then your health insurance will need to kick in to start providing coverage on the additional $1,000 per person and all future medical costs.

If you’re wondering whether or not to add Med Pay to your auto insurance policy, consider examining your health insurance policy. You may want to add Med Pay with a low or high limit depending on your health insurance coverage.

How is Med Pay different from PIP?

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a more comprehensive coverage than Med Pay, and therefore is usually more expensive. PIP will also pay for injuries caused by an accident, regardless of who was at fault. But PIP coverage can also extend to cover other losses as well, like lost wages.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident contact the law offices of Kamper Estrada, LLP. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will work to find you coverage for your medical costs.

Thanks to our friends and contributors at Kamper Estrada, LLP, for their insight into auto accidents.