Does car insurance cover medical bills?

Injuries in an accident can be expensive. Does car insurance cover injuries? Yes, and there are several coverage options.

If you are not at fault in the accident, medical bills are paid by the other driver’s liability. Most states require a minimum level of car insurance coverage. In some states, personal injury protection (PIP) and MedPay (medical payments) coverage are also required. How and when do these coverages pay medical bills? We’ll help you understand.

Read on to find out how medical bills can be paid by your car insurance.

Find car insurance rates for policies that cover medical bills in your area by typing your ZIP code in the free tool above.

How does car insurance cover medical bills?

There are several coverage options to pay medical bills after an accident. Drivers are required in every state to be financially responsible for injuries they cause in an accident. If you’re not at fault and live in a tort state, the other driver’s liability insurance will pay your bills.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover my medical expenses after an accident?

If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have enough insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will help.

Medical payment car insurance is another coverage that will cover any medical bills in car accidents. Along with PIP, these two coverage options pay medical bills regardless of fault. These two coverages pay medical bills in no-fault states.

Medical bills are generally covered by car insurance up to the policy limits. Anything beyond that will not be covered.

Read more: What does health insurance cover?

How does fault affect how medical bills are paid?

There are two types of state insurance law systems. In tort, sometimes called fault, states, the driver who is at fault is responsible for medical bills. That driver’s liability insurance will pay for injuries, and the driver can be sued if they aren’t insured or don’t have enough coverage.

In no-fault states, your insurance company pays your medical bills, regardless of fault. Your PIP and MedPay coverages will pay the bills for you and anyone in your car. 

Remember that even if your state has no-fault laws, someone will still be found at fault in the accident. Most no-fault states do allow lawsuits against another driver in cases of very serious accidents. You can still be held financially responsible.

How do car insurance and health insurance work together?

Your health insurance is always primary if you are in a car accident. That means that it will pay for your medical care first, and anything it doesn’t cover will fall to car insurance to pay.

This can include coinsurance, deductibles, and more. It can also include things health insurance doesn’t pay for. MedPay covers a lot of those things, including:

• Ambulance or EMT fees
• Dental procedures resulting from an accident
• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Professional nursing services
• Prosthetic limbs
• Surgeries
• X-rays

The best medical payments (MedPay) car insurance companies are shown in the table below.

Top medical payments insurance companies include GEICO, State Farm, and USAA.

Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Medical Bills

Case Study 1: Allstate Insurance Company – A Lifeline for Sarah’s Medical Treatment

Sarah, a 30-year-old professional, was involved in a severe car accident that resulted in multiple fractures and internal injuries. She required immediate medical attention and faced an extensive treatment plan, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing therapy. Fortunately, Sarah had comprehensive car insurance coverage from Allstate Insurance Company.

Allstate’s policy included personal injury protection (PIP), which covered her medical expenses regardless of fault. Sarah’s PIP coverage proved crucial in providing financial assistance for her medical bills, allowing her to focus on her recovery without worrying about the expenses incurred.

Case Study 2: GEICO Insurance – Relief for John’s Post-Accident Medical Expenses

John, a 45-year-old family man, suffered a neck and back injury after being rear-ended at a stoplight. He experienced severe pain and required extensive medical treatment, including chiropractic care and physical therapy. Thankfully, John had car insurance coverage from GEICO, which proved instrumental in covering his medical expenses.

GEICO’s bodily injury liability coverage, combined with John’s underinsured motorist coverage, helped alleviate the financial burden of his medical bills. This ensured he received the necessary treatment and focused on recovering from his injuries.

Case Study 3: State Farm Insurance – Protection for Emily’s Hospitalization Costs

Emily, a college student, was hit by an uninsured driver while crossing the street. She suffered multiple fractures and head trauma, requiring immediate hospitalization and specialized medical care. Despite the at-fault driver being uninsured, Emily’s car insurance policy with State Farm Insurance came to her rescue.

Under her uninsured motorist coverage, State Farm Insurance provided coverage for Emily’s medical bills, ensuring she received the necessary treatment without incurring significant personal expenses.

Case Study 4: Progressive Insurance – Support for David’s Long-Term Rehabilitation

David, an avid cyclist, was involved in a hit-and-run accident while commuting to work. The accident left him with severe spinal cord injuries, necessitating long-term rehabilitation and adaptive equipment. Thankfully, David had car insurance coverage from Progressive Insurance, which played a vital role in covering his extensive medical bills.

Progressive’s medical payments coverage and uninsured motorist coverage provided the financial support David needed throughout his rehabilitation journey. The coverage helped cover medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and necessary adaptive equipment.

Case Study 5: Farmers Insurance – Peace of Mind for Lisa’s Recovery

Lisa, a young mother, was involved in a head-on collision caused by a distracted driver. She suffered multiple fractures, internal injuries, and required extensive surgeries and rehabilitation. With car insurance coverage from Farmers Insurance, Lisa found peace of mind during her recovery process.

Farmers’ comprehensive coverage and medical payments coverage assisted Lisa in managing her medical expenses. The insurance coverage proved invaluable in ensuring she received the necessary medical care without incurring excessive financial strain.

Car Insurance and Medical Bills: The Bottom Line

Car insurance does cover medical bills, and there are several coverage options depending on who is at fault.

Car insurance coverages that pay for your injuries, doctor visits, and co-pays, and most other related expenses include liability, MedPay, and PIP.

While your health insurance is primary, car insurance will kick in to fill any gaps and ensure you aren’t left with medical bills to pay.

To see car insurance quotes for policies that cover medical bills in your area, enter your ZIP code in the free tool below.