Are Medical Benefits Covered Under My Automobile Insurance Policy?
Medical bills can be paid by different means. If you have Medical Payments ("Med Pay") coverage under your auto policy, your insurance company may pay your medical costs, whether you were at fault or not in the accident.
An injured person may be able to collect Med Pay benefits from the insurance policy that covers the automobile he was traveling in, or in the case of a pedestrian, the automobile he was struck by. In other cases, the injured person might receive Med Pay benefits from the insurance policy that covers his automobile or an insured automobile of any member of his household.
It is important to find out soon after an accident exactly what types of benefits are available. There is no penalty for making a claim for Med Pay benefits. However, in some cases the insurance company that makes payments under Med Pay coverage will be entitled to reimbursement, or subrogation, from the negligent party's insurance carrier.
What Medical Expenses Are Covered?
Med Pay benefits usually cover all reasonable and necessary medical bills incurred as a result of accident related injuries. These may include bills from doctors, hospitals, ambulances, physical therapists, chiropractors and prescriptions.
There is always a dollar limit or time limit on how much Med Pay insurance will cover. If you have Med pay coverage, collect and send your copies of your medical bills to the Med Pay carrier, not the negligent party's insurance carrier. (Retain your original medical bills for your own file.) Until the claim is settled, the negligent party's insurance company is not under any obligation to pay anything.
What About My Losses Not Paid By Med Pay?
If there are no Med Pay benefits available or your bills exceed the amount of your coverage, health insurance may be used to pay at least part of your medical bills. Other sources such as Medicare and Welfare, or a disability policy through your employer may pay medical bills. In any event, all actual medical expenses (and lost wages) will be included in the settlement demand, even if you had Med Pay coverage.
The above is not legal advice. That can only come from a qualified attorney who is familiar with all the facts and circumstances of a particular, specific case and the relevant law. See Terms of Use. |