What Is Med Pay & Why Is It Important?

“Medical Payments to Others,” often called Med Pay is a part of most car insurance policies. Many drivers assume that the medical bills resulting from injuries in an auto accident will be covered by their car insurance, but that is not the case. Those bills would actually be covered by Med Pay which is a rider on your car insurance policy. Med Pay riders are an area of automobile insurance that many people do not clearly understand. It is important to note that Med Pay is not a replacement for health insurance coverage. Med Pay only applies to injuries and medical care resulting directly from an automobile accident and almost always has a limit of $25,000.

Med Pay is a type of additional coverage that pays medical bills and expenses for the driver and passengers without regard to who is at fault for the automobile accident. For example, if Sally Safedriver is driving her car up Interstate 85-N and is suddenly rear-ended by another driver, who was following too closely, Ms. Safedriver can seek medical care and her Med Pay coverage will pay for her medical bills up to the amount of her Med Pay coverage.

Med Pay riders provide at least a couple of advantages to the injured. First, with Med Pay, medical providers are more assured of payment for their services and, therefore, are more willing to treat the injured involved in the accident. Secondly, under Georgia’s collateral source rule, the at-fault driver does not get the benefit of the other party’s insurance coverages. Therefore, Med Pay can be used to offset some of the costs of the medical expenses, allowing the injured party to maximize the portion of the settlement he or she is able to keep for themselves to compensate for general damages like pain and suffering.

Like all forms of insurance, Med Pay Riders can vary in the amount of coverage. In my April blog, I wrote about The Importance of Uninsured/Underinsured (UM) Coverage in Georgia and the need to consult with your insurance agent to review these types of coverages. Med Pay coverage should also be reviewed. Typically, the premium for Med Pay is relatively small. It is a good idea to check with your insurance agent to check your Med Pay coverage to ensure that you are protected adequately. If you are injured in an auto accident, you will be glad you made that phone call.

When you are injured in a car accident that was caused by another party, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney even if you have full coverage insurance. The responsible party needs to be held fully accountable. You need an attorney who comprehensively understands the ins-and-outs of car insurance injury claims. We are experienced car accident lawyers in Duluth who can assist you through the entire process. Our team will fight for every dime of compensation you are owed. When we take on your personal injury case, there are no fees unless you win. Call our law firm in Gwinnett at 678.697.6789 or send us a message for a free consultation.