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How To Cover Medical Expenses Through Car Insurance

If you are injured due to a car accident, you are likely to face high medical costs. While you may be aware of the car insurance coverages that help pay for your car's damages, you might not be aware that there are coverages that can help you pay your medical costs.

Continue reading to learn how you can have your accident-related injuries covered by your car insurance.

What Does My Car Insurance Policy Cover?

When it comes to medical coverages on your auto insurance policy, it is in your best interest to be absolutely certain of what your policy specifically covers. Knowing how your coverage works will go a long way in ensuring that you get the most out of your policy.

Continue reading for information regarding common types of medical coverages.

Liability Bodily Injury Coverage

Nearly every state in the country requires that every car driven on its public roads be insured with liability insurance. Your state will have a set minimum requirement for how much liability insurance you must have.*

Liability coverage consists of two parts:

  • Bodily injury coverage: Pays for medical costs associated with injuries suffered by others in an accident you cause.
    • It is important to understand that this coverage does not pay for your own injuries.
  • Property damage coverage: Pays for damage to another person's property (e.g., vehicle) in an accident you cause.

When you're injured, the at-fault driver's bodily injury coverage will pay your medical expenses. If you are at fault, you'll have to use one of the coverages below.

* It is smart to purchase more liability coverage than required by your state, especially if you have valuable assets that can be sought in a personal injury lawsuit.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal injury protection, or what many refer to as "no-fault insurance," will cover your medical costs regardless of fault. It is available in no-fault states.

In addition to medical costs, PIP also covers:

  • Lost wages.
  • Funeral expenses.
  • Child care.
  • Household maintenance.

Medical Payments

Medical payments coverage is similar to PIP in that both will help with your medical costs no matter who is found at fault for the accident. If you live in a no-fault state, you may have the option of also purchasing medical payments coverage to help supplement your standard coverage if your PIP is not sufficient to pay your injury-related costs.

Medical payments coverage, compared to PIP, is limited. It only covers medical costs and funeral expenses.

Typically, medical payments coverage will not pay for your lost wages or other items covered by personal injury protection coverage.

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