The medical bills can pile up after an auto accident-related injury. While you might expect that your health insurance will cover these expenses, this isn’t always the case — some health care policies offer limited or no coverage for injuries sustained in auto accidents. The good news is that you can purchase medical auto insurance to fill the void. Auto insurance medical coverage, also known as MedPay, is available as an option with vehicle policies in Missouri.
If you live in or around Missouri cities such as Union, Washington and St. Clair, the experienced pros at David Pope Insurance Services, LLC can help you understand auto insurance medical coverage. We’ll also assist you in determining whether you should carry MedPay, PIP or both. For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping Missourians just like you get the insurance they need at a price they can afford. Contact us to learn more today.
MedPay covers a host of medical-related expenses resulting from auto accidents, regardless of fault. Examples include hospital stays, EMT and ambulance fees, surgical procedures, professional nursing services and doctor visits. If an accident causes your death, this insurance will also cover your funeral expenses. You don’t even have to be injured in a vehicle to receive MedPay benefits. They apply if you’re hurt after being struck when walking or riding a bike as well. MedPay also covers your passengers or when you’re a passenger in another vehicle.
As mentioned, medical payments coverage and health insurance are not mutually exclusive. MedPay can work well as a supplement to your health plan in several ways. For instance, many people choose to carry high deductibles — the amount you pay out of your pocket before the benefits kick in — to keep the premiums low. MedPay can help you manage the cost of your deductible. It can also pick up the slack after you’ve exceeded the maximum dollar amount under your plan, or in situations where your health insurance does not extend to auto accidents.
Many people confuse MedPay with another form of auto insurance medical expense coverage called personal injury protection (PIP). While both cover many of the same medical costs, PIP also provides compensation for non-medical expenses such as lost wages, childcare costs and household services. Most people choose one or the other, but there are valid reasons to carry both. For example, MedPay can provide supplemental coverage after the policyholder has exhausted the PIP benefits.
You can’t purchase a standalone MedPay policy. You must choose to add it to your auto insurance policy at the time of purchase or a later date. The cost will depend on the coverage limits you select. Depending on the state and the insurance company, these can range from $1,000 to $25,000 per incident. Because medical payments coverage is less inclusive than PIP, it is also more affordable.