Medical Payments Coverage on Auto Policies
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage pays medical bills for you and your passengers after a crash, regardless of fault, up to a modest limit. Here's how it works with health insurance and PIP.
Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, pays reasonable medical expenses for you and your passengers after an auto accident, regardless of who was at fault, up to the policy limit. Limits are usually modest. It's optional in many states and not available in some.
What it typically pays
- Ambulance and emergency room costs.
- Doctor and hospital bills.
- Health insurance deductibles and copays related to the accident.
- Sometimes funeral expenses, depending on the policy.
It generally doesn't pay lost wages; that's more typical of personal injury protection.
MedPay vs. PIP
| MedPay | Personal injury protection (PIP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays medical bills | Yes | Yes |
| Pays lost wages | Usually no | Often yes |
| Pays other costs like household help | Usually no | Often yes |
| Required | Optional in many states | Required in no-fault states |
See personal injury protection and no-fault states.
Why carry it if you have health insurance
- It can cover deductibles and copays quickly.
- It covers passengers who may have no or limited health coverage.
- It pays regardless of fault, without waiting for liability decisions.
Your health plan or MedPay insurer may seek reimbursement if you later recover from an at-fault driver; see subrogation.
The takeaway
MedPay is a small, no-fault coverage for medical bills after a crash. It's most useful for covering health insurance cost sharing and protecting passengers.
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