Medical Payments Coverage

You know that your car insurance offers a lot of important protection for you on and off the road. But you might not be equipped with all the coverage you need to protect yourself and your passengers fully. If you're lacking medical payments coverage, it might be time to consider adding it to your policy.

How does medical payments coverage work, and what's the difference between it and personal injury protection (PIP)? Do I need to buy either of them for complete protection? We'll answer common questions and provide more information about this valuable coverage.

Fortunately, an independent insurance agent can help you get all the types of car insurance you need to be fully protected. 

What Is Medical Payments Coverage?

Medical payments coverage is a car insurance element that reimburses the policyholder for their own injuries and/or injuries to their passengers after an accident, regardless of fault. Covered expenses might include ambulance, emergency room, and hospital fees, as well as funeral, burial, or cremation costs. 

Medical payments coverage is usually optional, so you'll need to specifically add it to your policy when you purchase it. 

An independent insurance agent can help you add medical payments coverage to your car insurance policy.

What Is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between medical payments coverage and personal injury protection (PIP). Medical payments coverage reimburses medical costs for an injured driver or passenger(s), up to a certain limit. 

PIP covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other rehabilitation expenses. PIP is required coverage in some states. 

What Else Does Car Insurance Cover?

Car insurance coverage can vary widely depending on the types of coverage you select when you purchase your policy. Most states require at least liability coverage as the bare minimum. Others may require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and/or personal injury protection. 

• Bodily injury liability coverage: Protects you if you injure or kill someone else while driving your car. It covers an injured party's claims for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. It also covers your legal defense fees if another party involved in the accident sues you. Your state will mandate a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage you must have. 
• Property damage liability coverage: Pays for any damage that you cause to the property of others (e.g., another driver’s car) and for your legal defense if you are sued. Your state will mandate a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage you must have. 
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Protects you if you are hit by a hit-and-run driver or a driver who does not have auto liability coverage. It takes the place of liability insurance that the other driver should have but does not. Your state may mandate this coverage. If not, it will be an optional coverage that you can add to your policy. 

Other types of coverage are optional but often equally important to helping you pay for repairs and other expenses after an accident or other types of vehicle damage. 

• Collision coverage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a collision, regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive coverage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled by a non-collision event such as a hailstorm or theft.
• Roadside assistance coverage: Pays for help if you are locked out of your vehicle, run out of gas, or face some other type of problem while out on the road. Your insurance company will help you contact tow trucks, locksmiths, or other forms of assistance as needed and will reimburse you for the costs of these services up to certain limits.
• Rental reimbursement coverage: Provides payment for a rental car if your vehicle is damaged and you must rent a vehicle while it is being repaired.
• Loan/lease or gap coverage: Pays the difference between what you owe on a vehicle and its cash value if it is totaled.

An independent insurance agent can help you find all the types of car insurance you need to be fully protected when behind the wheel.

Do I Need Medical Payments Coverage with My Car Insurance Policy?

Currently, medical payments coverage is only required by law in three states:

It's a good idea to consider adding the coverage to your car insurance policy, since bodily injury liability only reimburses for injuries to the other driver and their passengers if you cause an accident. Medical payments coverage reimburses medical expenses regardless of who's at fault for the accident. 

If your state requires PIP, however, medical payments coverage isn't necessary. PIP offers more coverage, and adding medical payments coverage would be redundant. 

Keep in mind that if you have health insurance, it likely pays for some of your car accident-related injuries. Before you decide if you need medical payments coverage, make sure that your health insurance doesn't exclude medical expenses related to a car accident. 

What's more, health insurance companies can decide they're "second in line" to pay your car accident-related claim because they'll treat the medical payments coverage as the primary insurance provider. If, however, your health insurance pays the expenses first, you could potentially use the medical payments in your car insurance to cover your healthcare deductible. 

In either situation, having medical payments coverage helps you (or your passengers) minimize your out-of-pocket expenses for medical care related to a car accident. 

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What Are the Best Car Insurance Companies That Offer Medical Payments Coverage?

Car insurance with medical payments coverage is available from many major insurance companies across the U.S. To get started, here are just a few of our top picks for the best car insurance with medical payments coverage.


           

Top Rated Car Insurance Company	Star Rating
Progressive	5 Stars
Travelers	5 Stars
Central Insurance Companies	5 Stars
The Hanover	5 Stars
Encova	5 Stars
Nationwide	5 Stars
Safeco	4.5 Stars

Why Choose an Independent Insurance Agent?

Independent insurance agents simplify the process by shopping and comparing car insurance quotes for you. Not only that, but they’ll also cut the jargon and clarify the fine print, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Independent insurance agents also have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best car insurance and medical payments coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you.