MedPay: What is it and Why should you have it as part of your Auto Insurance Policy!
No one plans to have an accident, and very few people understand how “insurance” works when the unthinkable occurs. Consider the following common misconceptions and their corresponding reality:
MYTH: When an accident is the “other person’s fault”, the “other person’s insurance” will pay for medical treatment.
FACT: The other driver may not have insurance at all. (Make sure your “uninsured motorist” coverage is enough to cover treatment costs that could include an ambulance ride, MRIs, etc.) If the other driver has insurance (“third party insurance” to you), they eventually pay what they deem “reasonable” medical bills, but only at the end of your treatment, if you don’t have Med Pay. This limits your options for treating practitioners to those who are willing and able to wait months or years for payment for their services. It almost guarantees you will need to get a lawyer, or else pay out of pocket as you go. It puts significant pressure on you to settle as quickly as possible before treatment is complete. All your bills might not be paid.
MYTH: Med Pay, coverage for medical bills in case of an accident, is automatically included in your vehicle insurance package.
FACT: Med Pay has to be specifically requested, in specific amounts -- $2,000 (inadequate) $5,000 (barely adequate), $10,000 (minimum recommended) from your insurance agent. The agents rarely offer it without being asked. It costs almost nothing (average $10-15/month) to provide “as-you-go” medical treatment from the practitioner of your choice, without hassles or pressure. (Once the limit is reached, you will then need to collect from third party insurance when treatment is complete.) Do not accept any Med Pay policy with a deductible (out of pocket expense you have to pay first).
MYTH: If you already have health insurance, there is no reason to have Med Pay.
FACT: Do not accept Med Pay policies where your health insurance has to be billed first and refuse payment (due to a deductible or charges being related to an accident) before your bills are paid. This is nothing more than a stalling tactic to harass the treating practitioner and limit your treatment.
Everyone should carry Med Pay as part of their vehicle insurance policy. It provides peace of mind in a stressful situation, allowing you to proceed with the treatment you want and need for your accident injuries with the practitioners of your choice. If you do not have med Pay yet, call your insurance agent TODAY and add it to your policy! Also, although you may have had it when you took out your vehicle policy, do you still have it now? Will it cover the treatments, besides doctor visits, you want and need to heal from the accident, such as chiropractic, osteopathic, physical therapy, massage, or acupuncture? No one plans on having an accident, but with the growing levels of distraction, impatience, and driving incompetence out on the roadways, it may be more likely than you would want to think!