What is medical payments coverage?

Medical payments coverage is an elective coverage in Georgia that covers medical expenses incurred due to an automobile accident. Under Georgia law, the only type of car insurance mandated by law is liability coverage. All other coverages, including medical payments coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision coverage and comprehensive coverage are elective, meaning that you are able to choose whether to pay for these protections.

Medical payments coverage is available in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 or more. Although each individual insurance policy is different, most policies allow for payment of medical expenses for three years from the date of the car accident. Unlike traditional health insurance, medical payments coverage has no deductibles and no co-pays. The entire amount of the bill is covered.

Should you carry medical payments coverage?

It depends. Medical payments coverage is very cheap (compared to the other coverages available to you). The cost for $5,000 of medical payments coverage can cost as little as $20 for each six-month period. If you have good health insurance, and can afford deductibles and co-pays if you are injured in a car accident, you probably do not need medical payments coverage. However, if paying $60-$120 per week for physical therapy co-pays would not fit into your budget, you would probably be a good candidate for medical payments coverage.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Zevin & Rosenbloum believe that if you do not have health insurance, medical payments coverage is a must. When we conclude a car accident case for a client, we must pay all outstanding medical bills out of the settlement proceeds. Typically, if our client has $5,000 in medical payments coverage or more, all medical bills are covered by the medical payments coverage. Accordingly, there are no medical bills for us to pay and the client receives much more money.

If you have any questions about medical payments coverage, or if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call or contact the auto accident attorneys at Zevin and Rosenbloum today.