Our top pick: Progressive
- Broad coverage
- Transparent pricing tools
- Accident forgiveness on small claims
- Stack a variety of discounts for multiple cars
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
Compare medical payments coverage
MedPay coverage can fill the gap between what your health insurance covers and what you still owe.
Guides
Vehicle Guides
Need Financing?
Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
You probably have health insurance, but it may not cover all of your medical costs from an auto accident. Medical payments coverage can help fill in the gaps.
What's in this guide?
How much does medical payments coverage cost?
The cost of medical payments insurance largely depends on the limit you choose. Med pay limits are typically $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000, which can result in a monthly cost of $2 to $37.
The lower your limit, the lower your monthly cost. Adding medical payments coverage to your insurance policy typically costs around $5 a month. In total, you’ll probably pay less than $100 a year.
Does MedPay come with a deductible?
Med pay doesn’t come with a deductible. In fact, you can use it to pay for your health insurance deductible or copays after an auto accident.
Do I need auto insurance medical payments coverage?
If you already have car insurance and health insurance, you might be wondering why you need medical payments coverage. Though there will be overlap between the two, they don’t provide the same coverage. In fact, there are many costs your health insurance may not cover, such as prosthetic limbs, ambulance fees and funeral expenses. Medical payments coverage will take care of those costs. It can also pay for your health insurance deductible or copays.
If you live in Main or New Hampshire, you’re required to have medical payments coverage.
Compare policies with medical payments coverage
What’s included with medical payments coverage?
Medical payments coverage, or med pay, helps you with your medical costs resulting from a car accident — no matter who’s at fault.
It covers you and your passengers and can pay for expenses such as:
- Ambulance fees
- Surgery
- Funerals
- Dental care
- Prosthetic limbs
- Hospital visits
Medical payments coverage doesn’t only apply to auto accidents. It can also protect you outside of your vehicle, such as when you’re walking or riding your bike.
What’s not covered with medical payments coverage?
Scenarios that aren’t covered by med pay can vary between insurers and states, so check with your insurer about what Medpay will and won’t pay for in the state where you live. Here are some general expenses that may not be covered:
- Child care costs
- Treatment for other drivers in an at-fault accident
- Wage reimbursement
- Health problems unrelated to an accident
Medical payments coverage vs personal injury protection
Med pay is similar to personal injury protection in that it covers medical costs after an accident. However, the policies differ in three main ways:
- Med pay doesn’t have deductibles or copays. PIP does.
- PIP covers more costs — like lost income and psychiatric services.
- Both are mandatory in different states, but PIP is required in more states.
Medical payments vs health insurance
On the surface, medical payments and health insurance might seem like they cover the same thing. But if you look deeper, you’ll find that there are gaps in your health insurance policy that medical payments will fill in.
For example, a typical health insurance policy will cover a stay in the hospital, but it might not cover the ambulance ride to get there if the provider deems the ambulance wasn’t medically necessary. Other situations that med pay can cover that your health insurance usually doesn’t include are funeral costs and injuries sustained by a passenger in your car.
Med pay can also be used toward your health insurance deductible and copays. If you have a health insurance plan with a high deductible and high copay, medical payments coverage can save you money.
Case study: How to pay for medical bills after a car accident
While driving to work, Michelle is rear-ended by another driver who wasn’t paying attention when Michelle had to slam on her brakes because a car darted in front of her. Unfortunately, the accident was bad enough that Michelle is transported to the hospital by ambulance.
After Michelle recovers and is discharged from the hospital, the bills from her stay start coming in. She panics when she learns that her health insurance won’t cover the ambulance ride. Fortunately, she opted for medical payments insurance when obtaining car insurance.
Her med pay will cover the ambulance fee, as well as her steep deductible of $2,500 and high copays. Because of Michelle’s medical payments insurance, she will have no out-of-pocket expenses.
Bottom line
Medical payments coverage can be a useful add-on to protect you from unexpected medical costs. As a bonus, it doesn’t cost too much more per month. To find the best price, compare car insurance companies before making any final decisions.
Get the cheapest quotes
Compare car insurance companies near you.
Your information is secure.
Common questions about medical payments coverage
More guides on Finder
-
Lemonade car insurance review for 2021
Safe drivers and electric car owners could see cheap rates, but its claims process isn’t perfect.
-
How much does umbrella insurance cost?
Get a low-cost policy for liability expenses that exceed your car or home insurance coverage.
-
Best umbrella insurance
Receive extra liability coverage with an umbrella policy from these top insurers, though they may require you to have car insurance through them.
-
Guardian vision insurance review May 2021
Get a generous allowance to put towards contact lenses or frames with this plan.
-
How to start a cleaning business
From making a business plan and getting insurance to marketing and setting your prices — here’s how to start your own cleaning business.
-
Guardian dental insurance review 2021
This insurer has four dental plans to choose from — compare costs and features now.
-
Texas disaster assistance for the 2021 Winter Storm
Here’s where to get financial help for yourself and your business if you’ve been affected by the storm in February 2021.
-
What is health insurance cost sharing?
Learn cost-sharing terms to find out how much you’ll really pay for healthcare.
-
Compare teledermatology options
Get the skincare you need without taking a trip into your doctor’s office.
-
Compare life insurance wellness programs
Get an incentive to meet your existing health and fitness goals with a discounted premium.
Ask an Expert