Medical Payments coverage (or Med-Pay) is no-fault insurance that covers your medical costs after you are hurt in an automobile accident. This coverage will cover any medical expenses caused as a result of an automobile accident in Elk Grove or Sacramento County, regardless of who was at fault.
For drivers with health insurance, this coverage is useful to cover any out-of-pocket expenses you may incur, such as deductibles or co-pays, as well as any medical treatment that is not covered by your health insurance policy, such as chiropractic or acupuncture.
For drivers with no health insurance, Medical Payments coverage is even more crucial as it may be the only way to get the care and treatment you need following an accident. Again, this coverage will cover any medical expenses caused as a result of an automobile accident, regardless of who was at fault.
Most automobile insurance carriers will offer Medical Payments coverage ranging between $1,000 and $25,000. For drivers with health insurance, $5000-$10,000 is usually sufficient to cover those health care costs not otherwise covered by health insurance. For drivers without health insurance, we recommend Medical Payments coverage up to the maximum you can afford, and your insurer will offer.
In the event you are injured by another driver, one ancillary benefit of Medical Payments coverage is that it can sometimes work to increase your personal injury recovery by decreasing the amount you have to pay back to your health care providers and other insurers following the resolution of your personal injury claim.
If you do not know whether you have Medical Payments coverage, or you do not know your Medical Payments coverage limits, we strongly suggest you contact your insurance broker/agent/carrier immediately to request this information and possibly increase your Medical Payments coverage accordingly.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not a substitute for legal advice and in no way constitutes legal advice or gives rise to an attorney-client relationship. Adequate counsel is fact-dependent and requires independent analysis and inquiry specific to your situation and circumstances. This article is simply meant as a guide to explain in general and brief terms certain issues and serves to provide general information. Contact O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm at 916-714-8200 if you require legal help or wish to seek legal advice for your specific legal issue(s).
