Understanding the Importance of Medical Claim Coverage As Part Of Your Car Insurance Plan
You may have heard of medical claim coverage in car insurance, but what exactly is it? Medical claim coverage, also known as personal injury protection (PIP), is a type of insurance that covers medical expenses and, in some cases, lost wages and funeral costs resulting from an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP is required in some states but not others. In states where PIP is not required, you may still purchase it as part of your car insurance policy to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Why You Need Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
If you are involved in a car accident, PIP will help pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs, up to the limits of your policy. Even if you don’t live in a state where PIP is required by law, it’s still a good idea to have this type of coverage. That’s because if you’re injured in an accident caused by another driver who doesn’t have insurance or does not have enough insurance to cover your medical expenses, PIP will step in and help pay the bills.
PIP can also provide coverage if you’re injured as a pedestrian or bicyclist. In these cases, PIP would kick in even if the driver who hit you does not have this type of coverage or doesn’t have insurance at all.
Another reason to consider PIP is that it can help cover costs related to an accident that occurs while you’re a passenger in someone else’s car. If the driver of the car you’re riding in doesn’t have PIP or adequate liability coverage and you’re injured as a result of the accident, your own auto insurer would likely be responsible for paying your medical bills—up to the limits of your policy—if you have PIP coverage.
What PIP Does Not Cover
It’s important to know that PIP does not cover any property damage resulting from an accident. For example, if your car sustained damage in an accident caused by another driver and you need to repair or replace it, PIP would not cover those costs. You would need collision or comprehensive insurance for that.
Additionally, some states limit what types of health care providers will be covered under PIP. For example, some states only cover emergency room visits while others may also cover chiropractic care or physical therapy. And although most policies will cover lost wages up to a certain amount—usually around $3,000—per month, some only provide this benefit for a limited time period following an accident, such as three months.
Health Insurance VS. PIP Coverage: Who Pays In An Accident?
If you’re in an accident, who pays for your medical expenses? PIP from your auto insurance policy will be responsible for the medical bills for injuries sustained in an accident. If you do not have this insurance and instead use your regular health insurance coverage at the hospital, the health insurance company may be able to garnish part of any personal injury settlement in the future to recover their expenses. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to have at least $100,000 in PIP coverage as part of your auto insurance policy.
Conclusion
Purchasing PIP as part of your auto insurance policy can provide valuable protection if you’re ever injured in a car accident. It can help pay for your medical expenses and lost wages—regardless of who is at fault—up to the limits of your policy. If you don’t already have this type of coverage, consider adding it to your auto insurance policy today.
