Medical Payments Coverage: What is it?

Every insurance policy, the actual policy, has a provision for medical payments, sometimes called "Med Pay" coverage. Not everyone buys it, but more people should. What is med pay?

Med pay pays all reasonable medical expenses incurred as a result of an auto accident for you or anyone occupying your vehicle. The bills must be incurred within one (sometimes three) years of the date of the accident. So, if you are in an accident, even if it is your fault, the insurance company will pay your medical bills.

If you receive med pay coverage and the other party was at fault, you may have to pay back your insurance company for what they paid. Some insurance companies, like CSAA, do not require you to reimburse them. That makes it a better coverage for most people.

Med pay is relatively inexpensive. When your policy is up for renewal, ask your agent how much it would cost to add med pay to your policy.