It can be challenging to find a way of paying for your medical bills if you were injured in a Virginia car accident. You may not have planned on being severely injured. The cost of treatment has probably placed significant strain on your finances.
You can make an injury claim against the insurance coverage of the other driver or file a personal injury lawsuit for recovering compensation. However, this may take a long time and you have to pay your medical bills immediately. Adding Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage to your car insurance policy can help you in this situation.
What is MedPay?
Medical payments coverage is optional. This no-fault benefit is available through majority of insurance carriers in Virginia. You can use the benefits towards covering your medical expenses following an accident if you elect to purchase the coverage. The coverage can be up to the policy limits purchased.
MedPay benefits can cover you and your family in the event of a crash. The best part is that by adding MedPay benefits to your auto insurance policy you cover yourself and your family members in case there is an accident while walking, riding a bike, or riding in someone else’s car. The MedPay coverage will foot the necessary expenses for medical care under the circumstances.
There are certain things covered by MedPay health benefits that a traditional health insurance doesn’t. This includes chiropractic care and others. It provides the necessary funds for paying co-pay, deductibles and coinsurance costs. MedPay benefits will prove to be helpful even if you have health insurance.
Reasons to Get Medical Payments Coverage
There are specific advantages to purchasing medical payments car insurance coverage, such as:
- Affordable
Purchasing this policy as an add-on to an existing car insurance policy is relatively affordable. The cost of MedPay coverage is relatively reasonable. This is especially considering the cost of healthcare can be expensive following an auto accident.
- Fill coverage gaps
One of the primary benefits of obtaining MedPay coverage is to fill in the gaps in your coverage. Car insurance policies generally don’t cover injuries that you sustain from an accident for which you are to be blamed. You may be unprotected if something happens because you made a calculated error or a mistake while driving. Fortunately, MedPay insurance can fill this gap to ensure that you have available insurance money for covering healthcare costs that exceed the insurance coverage limits.
- Supplement health insurance
MedPay benefits can cover things that a traditional health insurance doesn’t. The policy add-on makes sense even when you have standard health insurance. For instance, dental care required because of an accident is generally not covered under conventional health policies. MedPay will cover that and also nursing care. It can be used for paying coinsurance costs and deductible expenses.
- Protection for the family
MedPay policy will cover you and everyone else in your family. The policy will pay care bills if a loved one is injured in an accident, including bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
Typical MedPay Coverage After an Accident
MedPay add-on benefit will pay for treatment of all injuries sustained in an auto accident, pedestrian accident, or a bike accident. Typically, coverage includes nursing care, ambulance fees, dental procedures, prosthetic devices, and surgeries among others.
It can also cover other items, such as:
- Copays and deductibles for health insurance plan
- Hospital stays
- Doctor’s visits
- Lab work
- X-rays
- Ambulance fees
- Surgery
MedPay coverage is generally available in varying amounts, such as $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 and more. You should know that you don’t need to purchase MedPay coverage under Virginia law even if majority of insurers offer it. However, if you want the coverage, you should ask your auto insurance provider for more information. You can also take a quick look at the insurance policy’s declaration page if you are not sure whether you have it or not.
Why Use Your Insurance When You Were Not At-Fault?
MedPay coverage is a no-fault benefit and filing a MedPay claim can help you get the money you require quickly. This is one of the major benefits of this add-on policy. MedPay benefits offer breathing room even if it is not substantial enough for covering the full extent of medical bills. Even if you have a strong injury claim, it can be long and contentious to obtain compensation. You don’t need to prove fault to get MedPay compensation, making it quick and easy.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
You may face significant financial and physical hardship following a car accident even if you have MedPay coverage. The car accident attorneys at the law firm of Shapiro, Appleton, Washburn & Sharp have extensive experience in helping victims seek full and fair compensation. To schedule your free case review with our legal team, call us at (833) 997-1774 or write to us online.
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