What Is Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay)?
Medical Payments Coverage, or MedPay, is an optional auto insurance add-on that pays your medical bills after an accident—regardless of who was at fault. It activates immediately after an accident and pays directly to providers or reimburses you for out-of-pocket expenses, without waiting for the liability determination to play out.
MedPay quick answer
MedPay, short for medical payments coverage, is an optional auto-insurance benefit that may help pay accident-related medical expenses under the terms of a policy. Availability, limits, eligible expenses, and claim procedures depend on the policy and the facts of the accident.
- Check the declarations page for the MedPay limit and covered vehicles.
- Keep bills, explanation-of-benefits statements, receipts, and records of treatment.
- Ask questions before assuming a payment changes another part of an injury claim.
How MedPay Works in Arizona
Arizona does not require insurers to offer MedPay (unlike UM/UIM coverage), but most standard auto policies include it as an optional endorsement. Common MedPay limits run from $1,000 to $25,000 per person per accident. Coverage typically includes:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Ambulance and medical transport costs
- Surgery and follow-up care
- Dental injuries caused by the accident
- Funeral expenses in some policies
MedPay covers you as the driver, your passengers, and you as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car. It does not cover lost wages or pain and suffering.
How It Affects Your Personal Injury Case
MedPay is a useful bridge: it pays your bills while the liability claim is being investigated and negotiated, which can take months. However, if your insurer paid MedPay and you later recover a settlement from the at-fault driver, Arizona allows your insurer to seek reimbursement—though the made-whole doctrine may apply. In practice, using MedPay for immediate care and then pursuing the at-fault driver’s liability policy for the full claim is the standard approach.
Example Scenario
Ryan is rear-ended on I-10 outside Phoenix. He goes to the ER and his bill is $8,000. The at-fault driver’s insurer opens an investigation that will take 90 days. Ryan files a MedPay claim with his own insurer and gets the $8,000 covered immediately. Six months later, his PI claim against the at-fault driver settles for $95,000. His insurer seeks reimbursement of the $8,000 MedPay from the settlement proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does filing a MedPay claim hurt my personal injury case in Arizona?
No. MedPay is a first-party benefit you paid premiums for. Using it does not constitute an admission, does not reduce what you can recover from the at-fault driver’s insurer, and is not evidence against you in the PI case. The at-fault driver’s liability remains the same regardless of whether you used MedPay.
Does MedPay cover my passengers in Arizona?
Yes. MedPay typically covers all occupants of your vehicle at the time of the accident, regardless of who was at fault. Each passenger is covered up to the per-person policy limit. Your passengers can also pursue the at-fault driver’s liability policy for full damages.
Have questions about MedPay and your injury claim? Call Wood Injury Law at (623) 207-0000 for a free case review.