WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
Yeah, I hear you on the “fire extinguisher” analogy. Had a friend get rear-ended in his E-Class—minor fender bender, but the ER bill was wild because his health plan didn’t cover the ambulance ride. Med pay on his auto policy picked up the slack. It’s not just about fault, it’s about those weird gaps you never see coming. For me, it’s worth the peace of mind, especially with how unpredictable medical billing can be these days.
WHEN DOES PAYING EXTRA FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE ON AUTO POLICIES MAKE SENSE?
That’s a fair point about the ambulance ride—those bills can be nuts. I get the peace of mind angle, but I always wonder if it’s overkill when you’ve already got solid health insurance. For me, it comes down to how much overlap there is. Anyone actually dig into what their health plan covers in a car accident? I found out mine has a pretty high deductible, so now I’m rethinking whether med pay is just an extra layer or actually useful. Curious if folks with older cars (like me) see it differently than those driving newer stuff...
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to think med pay was just doubling up, but after seeing a friend get hit with a $2k ER bill before insurance even kicked in, I started to question it. High deductibles make it feel less like overkill and more like a buffer. I drive a 15-year-old sedan and still lean toward keeping it, just for that “what if” factor.
- Med pay always felt redundant to me too, but I started looking at it differently after my wife had a minor fender bender last year. Our health insurance deductible was $3,500, and med pay would've covered most of that up front.
- For older cars, especially if you’re not carrying collision/comprehensive, med pay can be a decent safety net. It’s not about the car’s value—it’s about your out-of-pocket if you get hurt.
- High-deductible health plans make med pay way more appealing. If you’ve got a low deductible or super solid health coverage, maybe not as much.
- It’s usually pretty cheap, like $5-10/month for a few thousand in coverage. That’s less than a lunch out, and it kicks in regardless of fault.
- One thing I’d check: some health plans have exclusions for auto accidents, or require you to use auto med pay first. Worth reading the fine print.
- I get wanting to trim costs, but for me, med pay is one of those “sleep better at night” add-ons. Not a must-have for everyone, but not just a money grab either.
Honestly, I used to think med pay was just another way for insurance companies to nickel-and-dime us, but after seeing a buddy get stuck with a $2k ER bill after a minor rear-end, I changed my tune. Here’s how I look at it: 1) Check your health insurance deductible. 2) Look at what med pay costs. 3) Factor in how often you drive, and with who. If you’re carting kids around, that $5/month is a no-brainer. Has anyone actually had their health insurance deny coverage because it was a car accident? That’s the one thing I still wonder about...
