Auto MedPay helps pay bills for doctors, hospitals, X-rays, ambulances, and surgeries. Furthermore, MedPay can help fill the financial drains caused by health insurance deductibles, and copays. Finally, MedPay usually covers funeral costs in fatal crashes.

Medical Payments Insurance does not reimburse lost wages or cover property damage.

Auto MedPay Coverage

Auto MedPay covers expenses arising from a car crash – even if an insured person is in an auto accident nowhere near the insureds’ vehicle. Specific medical expenses normally covered include:

• Medical Transport (EMT);
• Emergency Room Expenses; 
• Radiology – X-rays / CT Scans / MRIs; 
• Anesthesia; 
• Surgeon fees; 
• Medical facility / hospital fees; 
• Prostheses; 
• Doctor’s visits; 
• Dental care required as a result of a car crash; and 
• Funeral expenses after fatal car accidents. 

Choosing Your Medical Payments Coverage Amount

Choosing Auto MedPay coverage amounts is unique to each individual or family. It should be based on your financial situation and health insurance coverage. And while MedPay coverage is not mandatory under Alaskan law – it should be. Many people have no MedPay or only $5,000. This is not enough. When purchasing Auto MedPay, consider higher limits, particularly if you frequently have passengers in your vehicle.

We recommend at least $100K of Auto MedPay insurance. It should cost around $8 to $12.50 per month or $50 to $75 every six months. This is cheap protection. People with sufficient MedPay avoid harassment by collection agencies after Motor Vehicle Accidents. More importantly, sufficient Auto MedPay insurance helps protect families from bankruptcy by medical bills. Choose the highest MedPay coverage limit you can fit into your budget – a minimal cost for tremendous peace of mind. Buy all you can afford.

MedPay Stacks – Injured In Someone Else’s Vehicle?

If you suffer injuries riding in someone else’s vehicle, ask if they have MedPay coverage. The vehicle owner’s MedPay coverage will help cover your related medical treatment. Your Auto MedPay also applies in addition to the occupied vehicle’s MedPay. Purchase Medical Payments Insurance Alaska – protect yourself, your family, your friends, your vehicle passengers, and your financial future. Auto MedPay covers medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

If you suffer injuries in an auto crash, discuss your claims with a personal injury attorney. Call Johnson Law to discuss your auto injury case and get a 100% free claim review: (907)277-3090 or use our online contact form.

This Auto MedPay Article is Part 4 of a 6-Part Winter Auto Insurance Review Series. Read these articles for information about Auto Liability Insurance, UM and UIM Insurance, Umbrella Coverage, and Personal Injury Auto Claims.

Johnson Law has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Image Source: Your Alaska Link

Medical Payments Insurance

Medical Payments Insurance (MedPay) covers medical bills and health insurance copays or deductibles for treatment related to injuries from a crash. MedPay applies to both drivers and passengers. MedPay also covers the insured if they suffer injuries as a pedestrian, even if they are not near their vehicle. Finally, MedPay covers funeral costs in fatal crashes. Purchase MedPay, Alaska – if your health insurance has a high deductible or doesn’t fully cover accident-related injuries, MedPay can help fill the gaps. 

Purchase MedPay Alaska – it can also cover the following expenses that arise from a car crash – even if you are in an auto accident nowhere near your own insured vehicle:

• Medical Transport;
• Emergency Room Expenses 
• Radiology – X-rays / CT Scans / MRIs 
• Anesthesia; 
• Surgeon fees; 
• Medical facility / hospital fees; 
• Prostheses; 
• Doctor’s visits; 
• Dental care required as a result of a car crash; and 
• Funeral expenses after fatal car accidents. 

Choosing Limits When You Purchase MedPay In Alaska

Choosing limits is unique to each individual and should be based on your financial situation and health insurance coverage. When you purchase MedPay Alaska, consider higher MedPay limits if you do not have health insurance or if you frequently have passengers in your vehicle. Choose the highest coverage limit you can to fit your needs and budget. 

If you suffer injuries riding in someone else’s vehicle, ask if they have MedPay coverage. It will help cover the treatment you need. Purchase MedPay Alaska – protect yourself, your family, and friends. MedPay is recommended to help cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. 

Johnson Law has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are. Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your Alaska accident injury case. We are here to serve you.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Source: NerdWallet: Understanding Medical Payments Coverage

Image Source: Wallet Hub

UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL PAYMENTS INSURANCE

Generally speaking, medical payments insurance covers the cost of medical expenses arising from an automobile accident – regardless of who is at fault. It can also cover the following expenses that may arise out of a car crash – even if you are nowhere near your insured vehicle:

• Medical Transport;
• Emergency Room Expenses 
• Radiology – X-rays / CT Scans / MRIs 
• Anesthesia; 
• Surgeon fees; 
• Medical facility / hospital fees; 
• Prostheses; 
• Doctor’s visits; 
• Dental care required as a result of a car crash; and 
• Funeral expenses. 

It covers all of your occupants and is optional in Alaska. Sadly, many people either decline the coverage, or do not know they have the option of purchasing Medical Payments coverage. Medical payments insurance can be used directly as primary coverage for expenses, or as a supplement to health care coverage you already have – paying co-pays and deductibles when you use your health insurance. Different policies take a different approach to this. Nonetheless, having medical payments insurance offers peace of mind that all expenses will be covered.

HOW TO GET MEDICAL PAYMENTS INSURANCE

The good news is, medical payments insurance can be added to your car insurance policy at any time. The cost of it is directly proportional to the amount of coverage you select per incident. Depending on your insurance policy and the size of coverage you choose, the insurance can be as low as $2.00 – $7.00 per month. This kind of coverage costs very little. Hopefully you never need it, but it ensures occupants receive the medical care they need.

Is it time to review Your Medical Payments (MedPay) Auto Insurance? Most of us buy first automobile insurance when we are “young and poor.” Our interaction with an insurance sales agent goes something like this: “I have no money. Sell me the cheapest coverage you have to let me legally drive in Alaska.” As a result, insurance sales agents normally sell us “statutory minimum”  “50/100” Liability insurance. We may or may not even know there is more protection available such as U/UIM and Medical Payments.

Medical Payments Insurance

Medical Payments or “MedPay” insurance normally pays for medical bills arising from an automobile accident. Therefore, it covers you and all occupants of your vehicle. And while it is not mandatory under Alaskan law – it should be. In fact, many people have no MedPay or only $5,000. This is not enough.

How Much Does It Cost

I recommend you buy $100K of “MedPay” insurance. It should cost between $50 and $75 every six months. Furthermore, People with sufficient MedPay rarely get bankrupted by medical bills and aren’t harassed by collection agencies after a Motor Vehicle Accident. Equally important, it is cheap peace of mind. Buy all you can afford.

BOTTOM LINE

If you or a loved one gets hurt in a car crash, be sure to coordinate payment of your medical bills between your health insurer and your Medical Payment insurer. DO NOT let your Medical Payments insurer exhaust your benefit up front. This is a common mistake.

This Blog is Part 3 of a 5 Part Series. Check these posts for information about Liability, U/UIM, Umbrella, and Homeowner Insurance.

Johnson Law, P.C. has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Please call Johnson Law, P.C. to discuss your case: (907)277-3090 or use our online contact form.

Secondary Source: Insurance Information Institute

Image Source: Wallet Hub

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements

Alaskan law requires liability insurance for drivers. Alaska statutes states that drivers must buy at least $50,000 of liability bodily injury coverage per person and $100,000 of liability bodily injury coverage per accident. Drivers must also buy $25,000 in liability property damage protection. Drivers must also prove they have insurance at all times. Failure to provide proof of insurance may result in a license suspension.

Statutory minimum does not mean fully insured. Although Alaska requires minimum levels of auto insurance, many crashes cause damages greater than minimum requirements cover. For example, a severe crash may result in long-term injuries. Such injuries reduce a victim’s ability to earn a living or limit quality of life. When this occurs, the injured person may require insurance beyond what an at-fault driver’s policy insures.

Additional Insurance Options During Insurance Coverage Review

Companies offer insurance beyond state requirements, such as uninsured (UM), underinsured (UIM), and medical payments coverage (MedPay). These insurances should be part of every insurance coverage review. They protect you when damages exceed the at-fault parties’ insurance available.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, usually called U/UIM – protects you (and all occupants of your vehicle and family members) when you are run over by an Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist – usually a drunk driver. If you (and your family) are badly hurt by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, this insurance stands in the place of the other driver and pays your claims, just as the other driver’s liability insurance would pay them … if the drunk had any insurance. It is staggering how many Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist we have on Alaskan roads. U/UIM is VERY important insurance for you and your family.

Prepare for winter weather driving. Buy at least as much U/UIM insurance as you buy liability insurance. Consider buying more to better protect your family. This insurance coverage may be all that is available to address a lifetime of medical bills, unemployment and pain. I recommend at least 100/300 coverage. It is far better than 50/100, but it does not provide much beyond minimal protection. The next step up is 250/500 or $250K per person, and $500K per accident.

IMPORTANT: U/UIM insurance is usually less expensive than liability insurance. It is not linearly priced. In other words, doubling your U/UIM coverage will usually NOT double your premium payment. It is smart to think: “How much is my life – and my family’s lives – worth?”

Medical Payments Insurance

Medical Payments Coverage or MedPay insurance normally pays for medical bills arising from an automobile accident. It covers you and all occupants of your vehicle. And while it is not mandatory under Alaskan law – it should be. Many people have no MedPay or only $5,000. This is not enough.

How Much Will I Pay for MedPay Coverage? We recommend you buy $100K of MedPay insurance. It should cost between $50 and $75 every six months. People with good MedPay coverage rarely get bankrupted by medical bills and aren’t harassed by collection agencies after a Motor Vehicle Accident. It is cheap peace of mind. Buy all you can afford.

Insurance Coverage Review For Winter

Prepare for winter weather driving with a full auto insurance coverage review. It is essential to have enough insurance in a car accident. After a serious automobile crash, contact an injury attorney. The attorney gathers evidence in your case to establish the negligence of a third-party causing injuries. If you are a victim of a motor vehicle collision, you have legal rights to hold negligent parties accountable. Including parties who don’t meet Alaska insurance requirements.

Johnson Law, P.C. has been helping Alaskans for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Please call Johnson Law, P.C. to discuss your case: (907)277-3090 or use our online contact form.

Sources: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, Alaska Statutes, Forbes

Image Source: The Smart Investor