Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is a car insurance add-on that covers medical expenses related to car accidents for you and your passengers.

Medical payments coverage (MedPay) covers medical expenses and funeral costs for you and your passengers after an accident, even if you’re the at-fault driver.
MedPay can function alongside health insurance and personal injury protection as a co-insurance.
MedPay is required by law in Maine and New Hampshire.

What is medical payments coverage?

Medical payments coverage, more commonly known as MedPay, covers medical costs for you and your passengers if you’re injured in a

car accident

. Even if you’re the at-fault driver, MedPay will pay out.

In addition to medical treatment costs, MedPay will also cover the following:

Funeral expenses if someone dies in an accident

Medical bills if you or a family member are hit by a vehicle while walking or riding a bike, or are injured while riding in another person’s vehicle

MedPay fills in any

coverage gaps in your health insurance policy

, and can even cover your health insurance deductibles and copays.

Keep in mind: Minimum liability car insurance only covers medical expenses for the other driver and their passengers when you’re at-fault in an accident. Without medical payments coverage, you will have to rely on health insurance or pay out of pocket for medical bills after an at-fault accident.

How much does MedPay cost?

In most instances, MedPay coverage is less than $10 a month, and MedPay doesn’t require the policyholder to pay any deductibles or co-pay in conjunction with a claim.

What does medical payments coverage cover?

MedPay does more than just cover your medical bills and funeral expenses—it may also reimburse you for the following, up to your policy limits:

Ambulance fees

Hospital visits and stays

Doctor visits

Dental care

Chiropractic care

X-rays

Prostheses

Professional nursing services

Rehabilitation expenses

Surgery

Funeral expenses

Health insurance deductibles and co-pays

MedPay can function as co-insurance for other types of insurance as well, such as health insurance and

personal injury protection

MORE:

What if both parties in a car accident have the same insurance company?

What does medical payments coverage not cover?

While MedPay covers most medical bills associated with a car accident, there are some things that MedPay won’t cover. These include:

Wage reimbursement (if you're forced to miss work due to injuries)

Child care costs (if you're limited physically due to injuries)

Medical bills for injuries suffered by other drivers

Treatment of injuries or health problems unrelated to a car accident

Psychiatric care after an accident

In addition, there are some exclusions to MedPay’s medical coverage, including injuries that occur:

While driving a vehicle with less than four wheels

While using your vehicle as a public conveyance (Uber, Lyft, and other

ridesharing

companies)

While you’re parked at your residence or other building and not driving

While driving a vehicle that you don’t own or use regularly

If you’re injured at work and your injury falls under worker’s compensation

While participating in an act of war or an organized race

Keep in mind: MedPay also does not compensate you for any pain, suffering, or emotional distress you suffer due to an accident. For that, you’ll have to sue the other party in a court of law.

MORE:

The most common causes of car accidents

Who needs MedPay?

MedPay is optional in most states. Drivers in the following states are required to have medical payments coverage on their insurance policy:

State	Coverage limits required	Stipulations
Maine	$2,000 per person	N/A
New Hampshire	$1,000 per person	Required for drivers with a car insurance policy

MedPay is not available in these states:

Other states have the option to purchase MedPay, but some states may also offer personal injury protection, which may be the better option.

Regardless of whether or not MedPay is offered in your state, you do need

bodily injury protection

when it comes to paying the medical bills associated with injuries suffered in a car accident. This could be in the form of your health insurance, personal injury protection (if offered), or some other means of coverage.

Medical payments coverage limits

Like most

types of car insurance

coverage, there are financial limits to the amount of coverage you have under MedPay.

Maximums are usually around $10,000 or less, depending on the state where you have car insurance.

MedPay generally works in conjunction with your health insurance or PIP, if you have either one, so it isn’t intended as a replacement for either.

How to choose the right amount of MedPay coverage

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to determine how much MedPay coverage you need. If you know that you would have trouble paying a deductible or co-pay associated with an accident, then you should consider maximizing your MedPay coverage.

MedPay offers coverage for costs that your health insurance may not cover, like funeral expenses and your health insurance deductible and copay.

For example, if your health insurance has low deductibles and copays, you may be better off with a lower MedPay limit. If your health insurance plan has higher deductibles, consider higher MedPay limits.

If you have health insurance and are on firm financial footing, you may consider keeping your medical payments coverage relatively low or forgo it altogether.

What’s the difference between liability coverage and medical payments coverage?

Liability car insurance

is required in every state except New Hampshire. Part of your liability insurance is bodily injury liability, which is designed to pay for the medical bills of anyone you injure while driving your insured vehicle.

MedPay, on the other hand, is optional coverage in most states and is designed to protect you and your passengers regardless of who is at fault.

What’s the difference between personal injury protection and medical payments coverage?

In addition to MedPay, some states also have something called personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. PIP covers a wider range of medical costs not covered by MedPay and is required in no-fault states.

PIP is normally the primary insurance, while MedPay serves as secondary coverage. MedPay insurance doesn’t have a deductible; PIP sometimes does.

Take a look at the table below for some of the coverage similarities and differences between MedPay and PIP.

Expenses	MedPay coverage	PIP coverage
Funeral expenses	Yes	Yes
Doctor visit	Yes	Yes
Hospital visit	Yes	Yes
Lost wages	No	Yes
Surgery, medication, and/or rehabilitation	Yes	Yes
Childcare compensation	No	Yes

How MedPay works with your health insurance

Your health insurance coverage will kick in after your MedPay coverage is paid out for your medical expenses.

If you receive a payout from any claim you filed against the other drivers, you will have to repay your car insurance company and health insurance for any payments it made on your behalf to cover your treatment.

How to search for medical payments insurance quotes

Medical payments coverage is available from a wide range of auto insurance companies and third-party providers. To find a plan and price that works best for you, be sure to shop around and

compare quotes

from different insurers.

To save yourself the time and hassle, consider using

Jerry

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FAQs

Is medical payments coverage necessary?

Medical payments coverage is required in Maine and New Hampshire (if you choose to purchase car insurance). In other states, medical payments coverage is not required, but it’s a good idea if you want extra protection against medical bills resulting from an at-fault car accident.

Keep in mind: MedPay is not available in all states. In some states, your only option for medical expenses coverage will be personal injury protection.

Is there medical payments coverage for homeowners?

Yes, there are medical payments coverage options for homeowners. Medical payments coverage on a homeowners insurance policy will cover any non-household member who gets injured on the property.

Is medical payments coverage required in California?

No, medical payments coverage is not required in California. MedPay is commonly purchased by California drivers since it’s relatively cheap and offers quick coverage for post-accident medical bills.

Why is medical payments coverage important?

Medical payments coverage is important since it offers financial support to drivers after an at-fault accident. Your liability coverage will only cover the other driver and their passengers, so MedPay offers personal protection and can help you avoid expensive medical bills.

Can I reject medical payments coverage?

You can reject medical payments coverage under the following criteria:

You live in a state where MedPay is not required. Medical Payments coverage is required in Pennsylvania and Maine. You must also carry medical payments coverage if you purchase car insurance in New Hampshire.

You choose to forgo car insurance in New Hampshire.

You live in a state where MedPay is not available.

You live in a state where PIP is required rather than MedPay.

Does medical payments coverage cover a visit to the dentist?

If your dental visit is related to a car accident, your medical payments coverage will offer dental coverage. If your dental visit is not related to a car accident, you will not have coverage under your medical payments policy.

Will my auto insurance cover my medical bills if I accidentally slammed my fingers in the door?

Since this is one of the most common car-related accidents, your medical payments coverage or personal injury protection coverage will cover medical bills if you slammed your fingers in your car door.

Can doctors refuse to bill my MedPay after an accident?

While

medical payments coverage

helps cover the costs associated with your healthcare in the event of an accident, they will likely not work directly with your hospital or medical provider.

Instead, once your

claim

has been processed, they will send you a check directly. It’s up to you to use this money to cover your medical costs.