If I’m hurt in a car accident, will the car insurance pay for all my medical bills?

In the aftermath of a car accident, especially when you or a loved one is hurt, bills are not the first thing on your mind. But when you get the hospital bill after the accident, whether it’s for a simple or serious condition, you shouldn’t be left holding the bag because of injuries in an accident. But will car insurance, either yours or the other person’s, pay for the hospital bills?

The charges for hospital care, especially if it’s in the emergency room or intensive care unit, can be thousands of dollars, even for basic treatment. For traumatic care, bills in the tens of thousands are routine and extended hospital stays can generate six-figure costs. These bills arrive at the most inopportune time – when you are already laid up, off work, and hurting from the incident.

Included within car insurance is a sub-section called “medical payments coverage” or “personal injury protection (PIP)”. This coverage is intended to help cover medical bills resulting from a car accident up to a particular level, depending on your policy. Unlike health insurance plans, it doesn’t have a deductible you have to meet before benefits kick in. Furthermore, this first line of medical protection typically applies regardless of who was at fault for the collision. This may be extremely beneficial in the situation where insurance companies and lawyers are trying to establish who was at fault.

Policies can pay for costs for any covered person, regardless of fault in an accident, whether it’s in your car, a friend’s car or on public transportation, according to insurance company State Farm. You should understand what your policy provides so you know the coverage available immediately after a collision.

Medical payments coverage, sometimes abbreviated to “medpay”, is one form of insurance for medical bills. Another type is Personal Injury Protection, which serves basically the same purpose, but differs slightly depending on the state you live in. Further, most PIP policies cover 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses, depending on the policy, according to insurance company Nationwide. Personal Injury Protection is available in “no-fault” states, where each party in a car accident obtains reimbursement from his or her own insurance provider and is restricted on rights to seek recovery of losses from the other party.

Personal Injury Protection may be required depending on state law, and can cover essential services like childcare or lost wages, according to insurance company Allstate. Medpay does not cover essential services and is always optional. Thus, when purchasing your automobile insurance, be sure to talk to your broker about medpay and PIP clauses to better protect yourself and your family.

The majority of U.S. states are fault states, meaning the offending driver’s insurance ultimately ends up responsible for monetary damages. Eighteen (18) states are referred to as no-fault states, meaning each driver’s insurance may end up initially responsible for damages. They include Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington. Kentucky, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are optional no-fault states, allowing drivers the option of whether they want to be held to a no-fault system, according to Nationwide.

Medpay can be relatively inexpensive, depending on your personal circumstances and coverage limits. It can cost as little as $5 – $8 per month, according to State Farm. Again, talk to your broker to determine if you have this important first-line coverage in your policy.

Depending on the state you live in and the company you use, the criteria for covered services under your medical payment plan may differ. Your insurance company may ask for specific documents to help them determine whether to validate a claim. For instance, in Florida, insurance providers require that a patient have an emergency medical condition caused by the car accident to make a payment.

Insurance companies may adjust or deny payments if they find the claim was not justified. Seeking the advice of a lawyer to evaluate your policy and to establish your claim can help get medical bills covered after you’re in a car accident.