For once, the DMV has proven useful!
What Does Medical Payments Cover?
Medical payments coverage generally pays for medical costs after you
are hurt in a car accident, regardless of who is found at fault for
the accident. Additionally, medical payments insurance may help pay
for:
- Funeral expenses.
- Injuries sustained by your passengers.
- Injuries you sustain as a pedestrian or bicyclist after a car hits you.
- Necessary dental care as a result of a car accident.
Benefits and
restrictions of medical payments coverage will differ amongst car
insurance companies. Make sure that when you are comparison-shopping
for your car insurance, you speak with an insurance agent from the
company to fully understand the details of their medical payments
coverage.
Really, as with most optional insurance, it comes down to a bit of a gamble. Do you want to pay $X/mo extra for this coverage and hope you don’t need it, or does the risk sound too high compared to the $X/mo they want to charge.
Medical Payments Insurance, which I believe is what you’re referring to, is supplemental to medical insurance that you hold for yourself as well as insurance passengers may hold. If your personal insurance isn’t great, or doesn’t cover auto accidents, then you may want to get the coverage. It’s important to know the fine-print on both your standard medical insurance and the Medical Payments Insurance to ensure you’re truly covered if you need it.
