What is Medical Payments Coverage?

If you have been hurt in a car wreck, you may be panicking about how to pay your medical bills. You should check your own vehicle insurance policy for a type of coverage called “medical payments.” Medical payments coverage or “med pay” covers your medical bills no matter who was at fault in a wreck. If you go to the hospital for a neck injury, your health insurance may only cover part of your bill. Medical payments can reimburse your for out-of-pocket expenses like copays, or provide coverage if you are without health insurance.

If your health insurance won’t cover certain treatments, like a chiropractor, medical payments fill the gap. Common amounts that you can purchase in medical payments coverage are $1,000.00 and $5,000.00. Even if you’re not at fault in a wreck, medical payments can provide financial relief quickly while your personal injury case s in process. It sounds like a useful thing to have, and it is. But what your own car insurance company won’t tell you is that they may not pay for your medical bills at all, even if you have medical payments coverage! Your vehicle insurance company has the right under your contract to decide that your medical bills are too high; that you didn’t really need the treatment you got; or that you took too long to get better. It can be surprising, frustrating and financially disastrous if your vehicle insurance company denies paying one of your medical bills. Often, you can fight back against denied medical payments claims and even take your own insurance company to a hearing (called an “arbitration”) if they are unjustifiably denying payment of your medical bills. But this process is highly technical and confusing. In the best circumstances, your attorney can write a letter or make a phone call and reverse your vehicle insurance company’s unjust decision. You should ensure your personal injury attorney is willing to fight this medical payments fight for you, even if the medical bill in dispute is small. It’s not small for you. It’s money you need for your life and family.