As you can imagine, car accident attorneys who have been in the business as long as we have hear a lot of questions about how to navigate different types of auto insurance coverage. We’ve noticed that med pay insurance coverage in particular is under-utilized in Louisiana, mostly because not many people fully understand what a med pay claim is.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Louisiana, you need to know what a med pay claim is, how it can help you after a car wreck, and whether it’s coverage you need in Louisiana.
TL;DR: Key Takeaways
- Med Pay provides essential first-party coverage for medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of fault.
- It differs from other auto insurance types by focusing on immediate medical payments rather than liability or lost wages.
- Med Pay supplements health insurance by covering out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays.
- Knowing how to file a Med Pay claim and consulting a car accident attorney can help ensure a fair and timely settlement in Louisiana.
What is Med Pay Coverage?
Medical payments coverage, often called medical payments insurance and abbreviated to Med Pay, MedPay, or Med-Pay, varies by state. In Louisiana, it may be optional or mandatory under your auto insurance policy, helping pay medical expenses after a vehicle accident.
Med Pay can help pay medical costs regardless of fault after a car wreck, such as:
- Hospital stays and ambulance bills
- Doctor visits
- Prescription medications
- Medical supplies and equipment, such as a wheelchair
- X-rays, MRIs, and lab tests
- Rehabilitation costs
Med Pay claims can also cover funeral expenses in the case of fatalities resulting from an accident.
Med pay insurance coverage is considered “first-party insurance,” which means you have to file a claim with your own auto insurance company, regardless of which driver was at fault. The coverage limit is the maximum amount paid per injured person. Common limits are often $1,000 to $10,000, and you choose that limit when buying coverage. If your medical care goes over the limit, you pay the remaining medical bills out of pocket.
MedPay covers:
- The insurance holder
- The insurance holder’s passengers (this means that even if you were a passenger in someone else’s car, you may be able to file a med pay claim with your driver’s insurance company)
Your MedPay insurance may also cover you if you’re a passenger in someone else’s vehicle if they don’t have MedPay coverage.
MedPay Vs. Other Types of Auto Insurance
People often confuse MedPay with other types of insurance, and it’s easy to see why. Although it shares many similarities with other coverage types, there are a few key differences. Another commonly confused option is personal injury protection, also called PIP coverage. In a no-fault state, this system generally makes PIP coverage mandatory, and it usually provides a wider range of benefits than MedPay, including lost wages and some medical treatments such as rehabilitation.
Liability Insurance
Louisiana drivers are required to carry bodily injury liability insurance and property-damage liability coverage that pays up to $15,000 for injuries to one person, $30,000 for injuries to multiple people in a single accident, and $25,000 for vehicle or property damage, as in most states. Because liability settlements are paid by the at-fault driver, it’s necessary to prove fault in liability claims, unlike MedPay, and this coverage pays for the other injured person rather than your own medical bills.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Protection
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Protection is optional and covers you if you’re in a car wreck with an at-fault driver who is uninsured or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your accident-related expenses. It also covers you as a passenger in someone else’s vehicle. Uninsured Motorist coverage usually has much higher payout limits than MedPay, but it can take a long time to get a settlement because you have to prove fault and reach the at-fault driver’s liability limits before you are compensated.
Do I Need MedPay if I Have Health Insurance?
If you have health insurance, you might assume that paying for MedPay coverage would be redundant. However, it all depends on your health plan. MedPay can fill gaps in your health coverage by helping with out-of-pocket medical bills such as deductibles and co-pays, including high deductibles and health insurance deductibles your health plan may leave to you after a car wreck. For someone without a health plan, MedPay may serve as primary coverage for immediate care after an automobile accident.
Keep in mind that you may have to make reimbursement to both MedPay and health insurance from a later settlement for the same accident.
Filing a Med Pay Claim in Louisiana
As with personal injury settlements, the exact process and settlement timeline for a MedPay claim, including how MedPay benefits are handled, will vary based on your specific set of circumstances.
When evaluating a claim or choosing limits, consider the cost of an emergency room bill and even a single ER visit, since those expenses can add up quickly. MedPay also generally will not cover injuries resulting from an accident involving a crime or illegal act.
Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can help limit the amount of pushback you get from your insurance company, resulting in a speedier, fairer settlement resolution.
Get Help from Louisiana Car Accident Attorney
Have you been injured in a car accident? Are you wondering “what is med pay insurance”? Or do you want to know more about how med pay works in Louisiana?
Our team of car accident attorneys in Louisiana can help. We’ll make sure you file the right type of insurance claim for your situation, and an insurance agent can help compare car insurance options and explain whether MedPay is available or optional in your state, since it varies by jurisdiction, as well as walk you through the process of negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement.
To discuss your case and get a free consultation, contact us any time.