How Does MedPay Work in Florida?
August 30, 2024

MedPay is an optional add-on medical payments coverage for auto insurance in Florida that helps cover medical expenses following a car accident.
While Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is mandatory in Florida, MedPay can supplement PIP by covering costs like deductibles and copays that exceed PIP's limits or aren't covered at all.
One of MedPay's key benefits is its broad coverage. This includes costs like health insurance deductibles and copays, doctor or hospital visits, X-rays, surgeries, ambulance fees, emergency medical technician fees, rehabilitation, nursing care, and certain medical equipment like prostheses.
MedPay kicks in regardless of who is at fault in the accident, but it is limited to medical expenses only and does not cover lost wages or other damages resulting from the accident. However, PIP includes coverage for physical and occupational therapy, psychiatric expenses, and professional health services, which MedPay does not.
For residents of the Sunshine State, MedPay is a valuable addition to your auto insurance policy, providing extra coverage and peace of mind in the event of an accident. It ensures that medical expenses are covered comprehensively, allowing you to focus on recovery without worrying about financial strain.
Florida medical bills after a car accident...
In the event of a car accident, your automotive insurance will cover some or all of your medical bills, regardless of fault. When you fully utilize your PIP coverage, your health insurance (if available) will take over the payment of accident-related expenses. Once you exceed your state's no-fault limit, you become responsible for the remaining expenses.
MedPay can cover up to 100% of your medical bills up to a specified limit. For example, if you choose $5,000 in MedPay coverage, it will complement the $10,000 provided by PIP, giving you a total of $15,000 in coverage. Often, MedPay is a low-cost option that can offer significant financial security, especially if your health insurance doesn't cover all post-accident expenses.
Living in a state with no-fault auto insurance laws, both MedPay and PIP insurance can provide much-needed financial support after an accident. Failure to pay your medical debt in Florida can result in legal actions, including late fees, interest charges, lawsuits, and wage garnishments, which could also negatively impact your credit score.
PIP – Other Than Medical Expenses
If you have PIP or MedPay in Florida, your insurance will cover your medical bills in the event of a crash. The primary difference between PIP and MedPay is that PIP offers broader coverage. While MedPay strictly covers medical expenses, PIP also covers lost wages and other costs. Here are some additional benefits included in PIP but not covered by MedPay:
- Essential Services – Payments for essential services reimburse an injured person for expenses they pay others to perform tasks they normally do, such as housework, child care, shopping, or food.
- Psychiatric Treatments – Florida PIP covers psychiatric treatments and up to 80% of necessary medical expenses (up to $10,000) for injuries sustained in a car accident.
- Physical Therapy Charges – PIP insurance in Florida can cover some of the cost of physical therapy after a car accident, but there are limitations, as it does not cover massage therapy or acupuncture.
- Rehabilitation Services – Florida's PIP covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses related to the car accident, including rehabilitation services.
The maximum limits of PIP combined with MedPay will vary, depending upon the amount of additional medical payment coverage the person decides to purchase. Nonetheless, the payments listed above will be covered by PIP. It is recommended that residents purchase at least enough MedPay coverage to pay for 20% of medical bills since PIP coverage is limited to 80%. Experts say you might want to consider MedPay even if you have health insurance and PIP.
MedPay – Things to Know
MedPay is not required under Florida Law. It is optional but can provide a small amount of coverage for injuries and medical costs for you, your passengers and household members. Since there is a 20 percent co-pay for PIP, you can ensure full coverage of a reasonable amount of medical bills.
No-Fault Coverage – As a type of no-fault insurance, benefits are provided to the insured regardless of who was at fault for the accident. MedPay can also extend to injured pedestrians.
Supplemental to Health Insurance – MedPay can help cover out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and copays, that your health insurance doesn't cover and used before health insurance takes effect.
Interaction with PIP – If a person has $5,000 in MedPay, their medical bills will be covered up to $15,000 when combined with PIP. MedPay can also pay funeral expenses in fatal accidents.
Insurance Company Credit – If you pursue a personal injury claim and make a recovery, MedPay benefits that are paid out do have to be reimbursed to your auto carrier.
MedPay is a supplemental policy that is not meant to replace primary health insurance but can help cover costs for deductibles and co-pays. The most common MedPay limits in Florida are $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000. Naturally, the higher the limit, the higher the cost of coverage. So, having both MedPay and PIP can be advantageous, especially for re-imbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
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MedPay remains a useful addition to maximize insurance benefits when combined with personal injury insurance that covers up to 80% of medical expenses due to car accidents. Contact an independent agent at Nsurance Nation to find out what discounts our insurers offer and how to get the best deal possible when adding optional auto insurance coverages.