Car Insurance protects just that car. Not you or the other persons inside the car. Medical Payments to Others also known as Med Pay, Medical Payments Insurance, or auto insurance medical coverage depending upon where you live is a type of optional insurance that covers the medical payments for the treatment of injuries of all of people inside of the car not just you if they suffer from injuries resulting from the motor vehicle accident, as a car accident lawyer in Arlington, TX, like from Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, can explain.
But what if I’m at fault for the accident?
Medical Payments Insurance covers the medical costs to all parties inside of the vehicle regardless as to whom is at fault for the accident.
What else can Medical Payments Insurance do?
It can also pay the medical payments for the treatment of injuries if you are stuck by a vehicle while on foot, or in someone else’s vehicle.
I have health insurance, do I still need Medical Payments Insurance?
While health insurance does typically pay for medical expenses incurred, however some health insurance policies can exclude payments for injuries that occurred in a motor vehicle accident. This can potentially leave you stuck with high out of pocket expenses.
So yes, even if you have health insurance you might want to consider Medical Payments Insurance.
Is Medical Payments Insurance the same as Bodily injury liability insurance?
No although they are both financial safeguards for drivers the differentiations between the two begin with liability. Bodily injury liability insurance is a type of insurance coverage that is used as protection for when you are at fault. Medical Payments Insurance as you recall can be used regardless as to who is at fault. The other big difference between Medical Payments Insurance and Bodily injury liability insurance is who it covers. Bodily injury liability insurance covers the drivers and passengers in the other cars involved in the motor vehicle accident, along with any pedestrians or other bystanders involved and injured in the motor vehicle accident if again you are at fault. In some states bodily injury liability insurance covers your passengers in the vehicle as well. Both Medical Payments Insurance and Bodily injury liability insurance both offer coverage of payments for medical expenses as well as funeral costs if the accident is fatal.
Bodily injury liability insurance also includes other things in the coverage such as lost wages, pain and suffering, and can also assist with legal fees in some instances.
What is the difference between Med Pay and PIP?
PIP or Personal Injury Protection is also an insurance option for coverage for you as well as your passengers in the vehicle. Personal Injury Protection like Medical Payments Insurance can be claimed regardless of who was at fault for the accident, and also like Medical Payments Insurance it covers medical expenses, however that is where Personal Injury Protection begins to differ from Medical Payments Insurance. Although Personal Injury Protection offers coverage for medical payments it also encompasses benefits for loss of services as well as lost wages. Another way Personal Injury Protection differs from Medical Payments Insurance is subrogation rights. Depending upon your insurance company and the policy held Medical Payments Insurance may have a right to subrogation. Meaning if you are not at fault for the accident and file for med pay as well as file a claim against the insurance of the person at fault when the third party claim settles your insurance potentially has a right to be paid back for whatever they paid out for Medical Payments Insurance. Personal injury protection, however, has no subrogation/ reimbursement rights in the state of Texas.