We don’t usually like to think about the potential for accidents that exists when we get behind the wheel of a car. Unfortunately, car accidents and injuries are a part of the risk of driving no matter where you are in the world. Understanding your medical options if you are involved in a car accident can help you wade through the confusion and the financial ramifications in the wake of such an event.

Medical expenses and damages done to your vehicle in a crash or accident can have a major impact on your finances if you aren’t insured properly. Knowing what you are and aren’t covered for can allow you to purchase supplemental insurance in case you or someone in your vehicle is injured in an automobile accident.

 

Auto Insurance Medical Coverage

 

Your automobile insurance has a certain amount of medical coverage built into it in case you are injured in a car accident, regardless of if it was your fault or not. Known as medical payments insurance, this part of your auto insurance can help cover:

• Expenses related to a funeral
• Injuries caused by other passengers in the vehicle
• If you are a pedestrian or bicyclist that is hit by a vehicle
• Dental care needed after a car accident

Of course, details of what is covered and what isn’t depends on individual automobile insurance companies and the policy that you have through them. Make sure to ask questions about medical payments coverage when purchasing or renewing your auto insurance policy.

Each state has different regulations for medical payments coverage as part of an automobile insurance policy. Some states have this built into an auto insurance policy, while other states may require you to purchase it separately. Some insurance companies allow you to reject their medical payments coverage if you are adequately covered elsewhere.

This kind of insurance, whether you get it as part of your auto insurance or as a separate policy, can also help protect your family members or other people who may be injured while riding in your car. This extends coverage to others that may not have insurance or enough insurance coverage to pay for medical expenses that result from a car accident.

 

Medical Insurance Considerations

 

When purchasing auto insurance and checking to see if you need medical payments coverage, there are a few details you can clarify to make this choice easier. Be sure to look at the following to get a better idea of how you may already be covered by various insurance policies:

• Your current health insurance coverage- If you have adequate insurance that covers car accidents, you may not need medical payments coverage as part of your auto insurance policy
• Whether or not you have personal injury coverage
• How much medical payments coverage would cost, in addition to your health insurance and auto insurance policies

Medical payments insurance can sometimes be set up with your insurance company to either be primary to your health insurance policy, or secondary to your health insurance policy. Note, making your auto medical payments primary to your medical insurance in case of any accident is very expensive. However, if you do make the medical payments primary to your health insurance policy, this will allow you to be covered to the limits of your health insurance. Thus, if your medical costs are extra, your secondary medical payments policy will be another layer of financial coverage.

Protective Agency can guide you through the details of medical payments coverage and your automobile insurance to see where your personal gaps in coverage may be. Ensuring that you, your family, and other passengers in your car are covered by some insurance in case of an accident is an easy and affordable way to be financially and medically prepared in case something bad should happen.

 

If you’d like to learn more, please contact our team at ProtectiveAgency.com or call (877) 739-9367. Our licensed insurance agents will be happy to answer any questions you have.