Medical payments coverage
Small, inexpensive, and it pays without arguing about fault.
Medical payments coverage — usually called MedPay — pays medical costs for you and your passengers after a crash, regardless of who was at fault.
Limits are typically modest compared with other coverages, and so is the cost. Its usefulness is in how quickly and simply it responds.
What it typically covers
- Emergency treatment and ambulance costs
- Hospital and doctor visits after a crash
- X-rays, surgery, and related treatment
- Your passengers, regardless of whose fault it was
- You as a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a vehicle, in many policies
Where it earns its place
Even with good health insurance, MedPay covers things health insurance handles awkwardly — a deductible you'd otherwise pay, co-pays, and the ambulance bill that arrives separately.
It also covers passengers who may have no health insurance of their own, which is a liability you'd otherwise be exposed to socially if not legally.
How it differs from PIP
MedPay generally covers medical costs only. PIP is broader, commonly extending to lost income and replacement services.
Which one is available depends on your state. Some require PIP, some offer MedPay, and some make both available.
It doesn't ask who was at fault
That's the practical value. There's no waiting on a liability determination and no argument about who caused what — the coverage responds to the injury.
Common questions
It can cover your health deductible, co-pays, and ambulance costs, and it covers passengers who may not have their own coverage. Limits are usually modest and so is the premium.
Many policies extend to you being struck as a pedestrian or cyclist. Confirm on your own policy.
MedPay generally covers medical costs only. PIP is broader and commonly includes lost income and replacement services. Availability depends on your state.
Want this priced for your situation?
This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.