Colorado law requires that all motorists purchase at least minimum automobile liability insurance in order to legally operate a vehicle. However, there are other types of automobile insurance that you can buy which will provide coverage for you if you suffer a personal injury and are injured in a car accident. One such type of insurance is Medical Payments Coverage or “Med Pay”, as it’s typically called.
Read Here for more Personal Injury Terms and Definitions you should know.
Med pay benefits are available for you and anyone else who is injured in an accident while occupying your vehicle. This insurance benefit typically provides an extra $5,000 in additional personal injury coverage but can also be purchased in units of $10,000, $25,000, or more, depending on your policy.
Standard liability insurance must provide benefits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Minimum liability insurance provides benefits to those who may be injured by your negligence but does not cover you personally in the case of an accident. But Med Pay will.
Many types of treatment can be covered by med pay benefits, including the following:
- Ambulance
- Emergency Room Treatment
- Radiology (X-Rays, MRIs, or CAT Scans)
- Surgery
- Hospital Stays
- Follow-up appointments
- Physical Therapy
- Chiropractic Treatment
- or Prescriptions
It is important to note that med pay benefits will cover your medical bills even if you are the one at fault in an accident.
Med pay coverage is optional supplemental insurance. You do not have to purchase it in order to comply with the minimum auto liability limits for insurance coverage under Colorado law.
However, even if you have private health insurance, it can prove costly to you to not have additional med pay coverage in the case of personal injury.
Ordinary health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, generally require a copay at the time of service. These copays can be very large, particularly if you are being seen by a specialist.
In addition, most health insurance policies also require you to satisfy an annual deductible before covering your medical bills. These annual deductibles can be expensive, ranging anywhere from $1,000 to as much as $10,000 per year.
Furthermore, if you use your personal health insurance to cover accident-related expenses, and then receive an insurance settlement in compensation for your injuries, your health insurance company is entitled to demand reimbursement of everything they paid to cover your bills.
However, the law treats med pay coverage differently. You do not have to satisfy an annual deductible before med pay coverage is available. Med pay coverage can also be used to pay your annual deductibles.
Most importantly, when you settle your case, you do not have to reimburse the insurance company for anything that was covered by med pay benefits.
Med pay benefits are a wise investment that can bring you peace of mind in the long-term, and you should contact your insurance agent about this type of coverage. If you have more questions, it would be a good idea to contact our experienced personal injury lawyers at The Contiguglia Law Firm who understand insurance liability and can help advise you in the case of an accident.
Don’t wait until you are faced with a lawsuit to find a trusted personal injury lawyer. Reach out to a lawyer at the Contiguglia Law Firm. Call us today for a free consultation.
