What Is MedPay? What New Mexico Drivers Should Know Before a Car Crash

Most of us buy car insurance hoping we'll never actually need to use it. In Albuquerque, let's face it - it can feel like it's not a matter of if, but when you'll need coverage after a crash. Driving home on Monday, my wife was rear-ended and the driver took off. When she called law enforcement, even the operator commented that situations like this are part of why insurance is so expensive in New Mexico. When you're choosing coverage, it's easy to focus on the monthly premium without really understanding what each option could mean if you're injured in a crash.

One coverage New Mexico drivers may want to look for is Medical Payments coverage, commonly called MedPay. MedPay is optional, but it can help pay medical expenses related to injuries from a motor vehicle accident, regardless of who caused the crash.

Why does that matter? Because figuring out who was at fault and getting an insurance claim resolved can take time. Your medical care shouldn't have to wait while the insurance companies sort that out.

What is MedPay

MedPay is a type of coverage that you can purchase as part of your auto insurance policy. It is not required in New Mexico, and you may need to ask to have it added to your current policy. Depending on your policy, it can help pay medical expenses for you and your passengers after a crash. There are different coverage amounts available, and the amount you choose is the maximum your policy will pay for covered medical expenses. Because MedPay isn't based on who caused the crash, it may also provide coverage when you're the at-fault driver (you caused the crash.)

Covered expenses can include things like ambulance services, emergency room visits, doctor visits, imaging, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and other medically necessary treatment related to the crash. Exactly what is covered depends on your individual policy, so this is one of those times when it's worth actually looking at your declarations page (you can find that in the documents your insurance company sent to you or sometimes in your insurance's app or online) instead of assuming you have MedPay coverage.

Why MedPay Can Be Helpful After a Crash?

If another driver causes your crash, it seems logical that their insurance company should simply pay your medical bills as you receive care. It isn't that simple.

The other driver's insurance is considered a third-party insurance company. They insure the person responsible for the crash, and they are handling the claim you have made because of their insured's actions. But they don't have a relationship or contract with the healthcare providers you choose to see. Because of that, the responsible party's insurance company generally isn't going to pay your medical providers visit by visit while your claim is being resolved. That can leave you trying to figure out how to pay for the care you need for injuries from the crash.

MedPay is different because it is coverage under your own auto insurance policy. If you have MedPay and your treatment is covered under your policy, it can provide a way for medical bills related to the crash to be paid while your claim against the other driver is still being worked out.

What If I Already Have Health Insurance?

This is a great question that gets asked frequently.

Health insurance may cover treatment after a car crash, but that doesn't necessarily mean you won't have deductibles, copays, or other out-of-pocket expenses.

MedPay may help with accident-related medical expenses that would otherwise come out of your pocket. How MedPay and your health insurance work together depends on your individual policies, so it's important to check both rather than assume one will automatically take care of everything.

How Much MedPay Do You Have?

MedPay has different coverage amounts, that all depend on your insurance company. I personally opted for the highest coverage our insurance offered of $25,000, which costs us less than $10/month. To see if you have MedPay, look at your declarations page to find both whether you have Medical Payments coverage and the coverage limit listed next to it.

Next, think about what that amount could realistically cover after a crash. An ambulance ride, emergency room evaluation, imaging-like an MRI or x-rays, follow-up appointments, and treatment can add up quickly. If you're not sure whether the amount you have makes sense for you, talk with your insurance agent about the MedPay options available under your policy and what it would cost to increase your coverage.

So, What Does All This Mean?

The time to learn what your auto insurance covers is not when you're sitting on the side of the road after a crash or in an ambulance. Take a few minutes now to look at your insurance coverage and see if you have MedPay and, if you do, how much coverage you have.

I have worked with many patients after car crashes, one of the last things you want to be figuring out when you're hurt is how you're going to pay for the care you need and to find out that most providers will not take a patient with third-party insurance coverage.

Understanding your coverage ahead of time can make one part of a very stressful situation a little easier to navigate.

If you've been in a crash in the Albuquerque area and have questions about your injuries or whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you, I'm happy to talk with you.