Auto accidents are an unfortunate fact of life, with 32,000 people dying as a result of fatal traffic accidents per year. As of 2013, 3,000 of those fatal accidents occurred in California alone. This statistic doesn’t take into account car accidents that aren’t fatal. There are more car crashes in California than in any other state because there are more people in California. Fortunately, California offers Med Pay as a form of insurance to protect California drivers in the case of an accident.
What is California Med Pay?
Med Pay is short for “medical payments coverage,” optional first-party insurance that Californians can choose to add to their auto policy. In the case of an auto accident, Med Pay covers reasonable and necessary medical or funeral bills when you or your family member is involved in an auto accident, no matter who is at fault. Med Pay payments are made directly to the doctor or hospital up to the amount covered by your policy. Most medical payment coverage policies guarantee the insurer receives reimbursement, which prevents you from receiving money intended for medical bills from a third party and pocketing it rather than reimbursing the auto insurer. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can go over your insurance policy and help negotiate a fair settlement that will cover your out-of-pocket expenses and also leave you with something to make up for your physical and emotional suffering.
Med Pay
What Expenses Are Covered?
- Doctor’s bills
- Hospital bills
- Ambulance and EMT bills
- X- and MRIs
- Medical equipment (such as crutches or a wheelchair)
- Prosthetics
- Short- or long-term care
- Home health care
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Chiropractor or acupuncture bills
- Dentist bills (to fix broken teeth or other oral damage)
What Expenses Are Not Covered?
California Med Pay does not cover:
- Expenses not related to the accident
- Car repair bills
- Costs of property damage
- Coverage in excess of policy limits
- Accidents not involving a vehicle
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether your expenses are covered by your Med Pay coverage after you’ve been in an accident.
Who Should Have Med-Pay Insurance?
Med Pay insurance is a great option for those who lack health insurance or whose insurance has high deductibles or co-pays. Med Pay can also be a viable option for those who have good health insurance, as it covers passengers in the vehicle of the policyholder, regardless of whether they have insurance themselves. There is no limit to the types of services or providers the injured party can access, and coverage is “per incident,” not per year, meaning there are no yearly caps, such as is typical with most health insurance policies.
When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you or a family member have been in a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer. An experienced lawyer can help you determine what is covered by your Med Pay policy, as well as assist you in receiving a fair settlement to cover all of your auto-related injury expenses. Schedule your free case evaluation with the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg now.
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