Some health insurance policies exclude coverage for injuries sustained in a car accident. Depending on the terms, your policy could cover none, some, or all of the medical expenses resulting from injuries from a car crash.
If your health insurer pays for such injuries, whether the other driver was uninsured or underinsured isn’t typical of any concern to them (except for subrogation purposes with the at-fault party, which shouldn’t affect your claims to your insurer).
Health insurance policies also vary by state and insurance provider, so before declining all medical coverage on your car insurance policy, such as medical payments (Med Pay), uninsured motorist (UM), underinsured motorist (UIM) or personal injury protection (PIP), you need to review and understand the specific details of your health insurance policy.
Is your health or car insurance medical coverage primary?
Typically, your car insurance medical is primary and your health insurance is secondary if you carry both, but this can vary by state.
If both your health insurer and car insurer pay for medical bills, will your health insurer ask to be reimbursed for claims they paid on?
The answer is usually yes if insurers paid out overlapping payments for the same medical expenses.
Is there any health insurance coverage for passengers of your automobile?
Probably not, unless the passenger is also on your health policy, but knowing the answer can help you determine if you want to carry MedPay or PIP so that your car’s passengers will have some medical coverage if that is important to you.
If you find that your health insurance doesn’t cover you for auto accident injuries, then take time to seriously evaluate the benefits of medical coverage that your car insurance provider has to offer.
Even if your health insurer does cover injuries related to a car crash (so you don’t feel the need for MedPay or PIP), carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury may be worth the cost if you want to have the ability to claim for lost wages and pain and suffering – items that your health insurer won’t cover.
If you are uncertain if you can afford medical coverage as part of your car insurance policy, get quotes for a policy with and without medical coverage to compare costs and make a decision.
— Penny Gusner contributed to this story.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert and Executive Editor at CarInsurance.com, where she specializes in helping consumers navigate the complexities of the financial and insurance industries. She has 15 years of experience educating people about finance and car insurance. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network. Her expertise provides readers with practical guidance, helping them make informed choices about their financial and insurance needs.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Executive Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.