Had a fender bender last year and was surprised how my car insurance's "med pay" kicked in for some ER bills, even though I have health insurance. It covered some stuff my regular insurance didn't touch (like the ambulance, ugh). I'm still not totally sure if it's worth the extra cost every renewal though... Has anyone else actually used this and felt like it was a lifesaver, or does it just end up being redundant for most people?
WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
Honestly, med pay can be a bit of a gray area. It’s designed to kick in fast, no matter who’s at fault, and can help with deductibles or stuff your health insurance skips (like you noticed with the ambulance). But if you’ve got a super low health deductible, or good coverage for things like physical therapy, it might overlap more than it helps. Out of curiosity—do you have a high-deductible health plan, or is your regular insurance pretty comprehensive? That can make a big difference in whether med pay feels worth it.
WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think med pay is worth a second look, even if you’ve got decent health insurance. Here’s the thing—after my cousin’s fender bender last year, her health insurance took forever to process everything, and she still ended up with a big chunk of out-of-pocket costs for stuff like the ambulance ride and some weird “out-of-network” charge. Med pay would’ve covered it up front, no questions asked.
Plus, if you ever have passengers who aren’t on your health plan, med pay can help them too. It’s not just about your own deductible. For a few extra bucks a month, I’d rather have that safety net than risk getting stuck with surprise bills. Maybe it overlaps sometimes, but in my experience, those little gaps can cost way more than the premium. Just my two cents...
I think you nailed a lot of the reasons why med pay can be smart, even if you already have health insurance. The point about passengers really stands out—if you’re driving friends or classmates around, you don’t want to be in a spot where someone gets hurt and suddenly they’re facing big bills just because they aren’t on your plan.
I’d add that med pay can sometimes help with stuff your health insurance just won’t touch. For instance, some policies will cover dental work if you crack a tooth in an accident, or even physical therapy if it’s related to the crash. Health insurance might push back on that or make you jump through hoops.
“Med pay would’ve covered it up front, no questions asked.”
That’s a huge deal when you’re stressed after an accident and just want things sorted fast. The only thing I’d say is, if your state has personal injury protection (PIP), it might overlap with med pay, so it’s worth checking what you already have. But for a few bucks more each month, it feels like cheap peace of mind.
WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
That’s a fair point about the dental and PT stuff—never thought of that angle. I’ve always been a bit skeptical, honestly. Feels like insurance companies love stacking on little add-ons that sound good but rarely pay out. But after hearing stories about ambulance bills and the weird gaps in health coverage, it’s got me thinking twice. Still, I wish policies were clearer about what’s actually covered; half the time you need a law degree to read them. Maybe it is worth the extra $20 or whatever, just for the “no questions asked” part when things go sideways.
