What is MedPay?
MedPay is a relatively inexpensive service you can opt into in your auto insurance. While it might increase your insurance bill slightly, it is worth it if you are ever injured in a vehicle accident.
You can pay for the MedPay you want, and each insurance company is different and pricing will vary slightly. A common amount of MedPay coverage is $1000 per accident, but this amount can vary depending on the insurance company and policy – be sure to speak to your insurance agent about your options.
MedPay is essentially an add-on to your auto insurance that acts as a small health insurance policy for you, your passengers, and members of your household. So for example, if you are in a car accident, and have to go to the emergency room, MedPay from your auto policy can be used to help pay your hospital bill.
How does MedPay work?
When you get auto insurance, you have the option to either accept or reject MedPay. If you choose to accept it, you will pay a small amount on top of your auto insurance, but will now have $1000-$10,000 per accident to use on medical bills and expenses. This includes members of your household and will cover you if you are involved in any form of an auto accident – whether you are in a car yourself, or are hit as a pedestrian.
Generally, when someone is involved in a vehicle accident, they are likely to visit the emergency room, or a medical provider within a few hours of the event. When you are injured, your MedPay can basically be used as “free” money to pay for medical bills.
Many times, your attorney can speak with medical providers and put the bills on hold, but some providers are unable to do this. This circumstance is one of many that MedPay can make a world of difference.
Imagine that you are walking down the street, and you are hit by a vehicle and have to go to the emergency room. After the ER visit, you are left with a large bill, and you have a large co-pay on your health insurance. This would leave you with an ER bill that you have to pay for out of pocket. MedPay can help you pay this bill while you wait for your accident case to settle.
How do you get MedPay to pay your bills?
To use your MedPay, you submit medical bills to your insurance company, and they can either send you the money directly, or they can pay the bills directly. Your attorney and a legal assistant can help you with this process to make it simple for you, as they are already collecting the medical bills for your case.
So, for example, if your MedPay is $5000 and you have $3000 in medical bills, you can submit the medical bills to your insurance provider, take the $3000 out and immediately pay for your healthcare, without having to strain financially until your case is finished.
Does MedPay have any impact on a settlement?
No, if you were injured and used MedPay for your medical treatment, your attorney will still use your total medical bills like any other case. When the case is completed, instead of having to use a portion of the settlement funds to pay medical bills, it will go directly to you.
MedPay is an extremely beneficial and lesser-known part of auto insurance. It can make a difference when you must get medical treatment but may not be able to pay for it out of pocket.
Got questions about MedPay or any other insurance matters? Contact Fry | Goehring.
