Understanding Medical Payment Coverage vs Personal Injury Protection

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, your car insurance company is there to provide the financial assistance you need. In Texas, your policy most likely includes both medical payment coverage and personal injury protection, but what is the difference between these two? Our car accident lawyers in Houston are breaking down the difference, when each one is applicable, and how they can help you move forward after a collision.

What Is Medical Payment Coverage?

Medical payment coverage may also be called medical expense coverage or medpay and is a key part of your car insurance policy. It is specifically used to cover medical bills that were accrued due to a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. Typically, your health insurance will pay for some of the medical bills, then medical payment coverage will pay for bills that weren’t covered due to a deductible as well as dental care and physical therapy.

Medical payment insurance can also pay for injuries that passengers in your car may have sustained during an accident, and depending on the policy, they can also be used if you were hit by a car while you were walking or riding a bike. In the event the accident was fatal, medpay can also be used for funeral expenses.

In Texas, medpay is not required to be offered by your insurance company and can be a bit narrow in coverage:

• Only pays for medical expenses accrued within one year of the collision;
• Chiropractic care is not covered usually;
• Reimburses deductibles and co-pays.

What Is Personal Injury Protection?

Personal injury protection and medical payment coverage do overlap somewhat, in that they can both be used to pay medical bills and health costs. However, personal injury protection goes a bit further, covering you, family members in your household, any driver permitted to drive the insured vehicle, plus passengers. Insurers will pay medical and funeral expenses caused by the crash within three years of the accident. Additionally, this coverage also pays up to 80 percent of lost wages and if you are unemployed, it can be used to pay for necessary services you normally provide for your household, like lawn care or housekeeping.

In Texas, your insurance company must provide a minimum of $2,500 per person in coverage unless you, the policyholder, reject it.

Relying on an Attorney to Receive Compensation from Your Insurance Company

After you have been injured in an accident, fighting with the insurance company is the last thing you want to do. However, it’s often necessary. Insurance companies are dedicated to minimizing expenses and payouts and this often means they will delay approvals, require complicated paperwork, or even deny clearly covered expenses. Having a car accident lawyer who understands PIP and medpay and can look at your case objectively can help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Additionally, you may have to file with your insurance company in the event you were injured in an accident in which the at-fault driver didn’t have insurance. This can be even more difficult to navigate, and having legal guidance and representation can help you get a more advantageous outcome.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer in Houston

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need to file a claim with your insurance company, or they are not wanting to pay out what you feel you are owed, we can help. Our experienced team is here to assist you and help you recover the full amount you are entitled to for your injuries, lost wages, and property damage. To schedule a free consultation with our team, call us at 888-335-0015 or fill out the form below to get started.