Glossary
Medical payments coverage (MedPay)
Coverage on your own auto policy that pays medical bills after a crash, up to a set limit, whoever caused it. Unlike PIP, it usually does not pay lost income.
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.
Quick answer
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is coverage on your own auto policy that pays medical bills after a crash, up to a set limit, no matter who caused it. Unlike Personal injury protection (PIP). Coverage under your own policy that pays medical bills and some lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. Glossary, it usually does not pay lost income.
In a car accident claim#
MedPay pays early, without waiting for the fault dispute to end. Depending on the policy, it can cover deductibles and copays your health plan leaves behind, passengers in your car, and you as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car.
Whether you have it depends on your state and your choices:
| State | MedPay rule |
|---|---|
| Texas | Optional |
| Colorado | Included at $5,000 unless rejected in writing |
| Nevada | Must be offered (at least $1,000); optional |
| Wisconsin | Must be offered; can be declined (at least $1,000 if bought) |
When you later recover from the at-fault driver, your insurer may ask to be repaid from that money through Subrogation. An insurer's right to be repaid from your settlement for what it already paid on your behalf. Glossary, depending on state law and the policy. Our guide to who pays your medical bills shows how MedPay fits with health insurance, PIP and the other driver's coverage.
Example#
Related terms#
Questions people ask
What is the difference between MedPay and PIP?
Both pay regardless of fault. PIP usually also pays part of lost income and other costs, and it is required in no-fault states. MedPay generally covers medical bills only.
Does MedPay cover passengers and pedestrians?
Often. MedPay usually covers people riding in your car, and it may cover you as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car. The policy wording decides who is covered and up to what limit.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide — MedPay and PIP in Texas
- Colorado Division of Insurance, Auto Insurance — as of October 2026
- Nevada Legislature, NRS 687B.145, uninsured/underinsured and medical expense coverage offers — as of October 2026
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance FAQs — as of August 2026
Last reviewed October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.
Keep reading
- GlossaryGlossaryShort, plain-English definitions of the legal and insurance terms that come up after a crash, each with an example, related terms and the sources behind it.
- Money and compensationWho pays medical billsThe at-fault driver's insurer usually pays once, at settlement. Until then, your own PIP or MedPay, health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid pay first, and may…
- Accident typesMotorcycle accidentsRiders face much higher risks and some insurance gaps. Helmet laws vary by state, and whether riding without one affects a claim depends on state law and the…
- Accident typesPedestrian accidentsA pedestrian hit by a car can claim against the driver's insurance and sometimes their own auto, health or uninsured motorist coverage. Right-of-way and fault…
- GlossarySubrogationAn insurer's right to be repaid from your settlement for what it already paid on your behalf.
- GlossaryComplaintThe document that starts a civil lawsuit. It names the parties, describes what happened and says what the person suing asks the court to award.