According to the law in Missouri, you are required to carry some form of insurance coverage to help you get through a car crash without going bankrupt. The minimum level of coverage according to the Missouri Department of Revenue is:
$25,000 per person for bodily injury
$50,000 per accident for bodily injury
$25,000 per accident for property
In addition to this, you can also add different options and benefits to your policy, such as medical payments coverage. What is it, how does it work, and do you really need it?
MedPay: What Is It and What Does It Cover?
MedPay or medical payment coverage is an option that you can add to your insurance that will cover expenses for you as well as other people on the policy following an accident. We’re talking here about costs related to medical care or funeral expenses.
Here’s a list to help you get an idea:
Ambulances fees
X-rays, surgeries, and so on
Hospital visits and stays
Dental procedures required because of the car crash
Nursing services
One of the main benefits of MedPay coverage is that it’s not limited to your car. In other words, if you are hit by a driver as a pedestrian or while riding public transportation, your policy generally remains active. However, if you attach a trailer or van to your car and get injured while riding it, then the policy likely won’t cover it.
How Do I Get Reimbursed?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have medical bills piling up, there are two ways you can get paid: 1) if the MedPay is your primary coverage, then you may receive a direct reimbursement or 2) you will receive a supplement to your existing healthcare policy.
More often than not, the victims pay the expenses upfront, and then the insurance company reimburses them dollar for dollar. If the medical payment coverage is secondary, then your regular health insurance may cover the bulk of the expenses and you can use your MedPay for deductibles.
Do I Need It?
While it can help you greatly, MedPay shouldn’t replace your regular health insurance. The limit is set quite low, ranging between 1,000 and 10,000 in Missouri. That is because the purpose of the medical payments coverage is to cover immediate expenses and provide some financial relief until the insurance kicks in.
So, the answer to the question is that it depends. MedPay can certainly provide peace of mind knowing that some of the more pressing costs are taken care of without forcing you to break the bank.
The At-Fault Party Must Pay Compensation
The law says that the driver responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for paying for damages and medical expenses. However, if the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, then your own insurance can provide some financial relief. As you can see, things can get quite complex, but a St. Louis car accident attorney can help you in these matters. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE consultation.
