, either MedPay coverage or PIP insurance must be included in your state-mandated minimum auto insurance policy. But just because it’s not required in every state doesn’t mean MedPay or PIP—or even both—may not be great additions to your policy.

Both MedPay and PIP help pay for medical services and expenses you may face after being injured in a car accident. Your policy limits, premiums, and the types of expenses covered vary greatly depending on the type of coverage you choose, though.

Here to help you figure out which coverage is right for you—or which might be required by your state—is

Jerry

, the

licensed broker

and

car insurance

comparison app. Read on to find out what MedPay covers, what PIP covers, and which ones are required in which states.

MedPay vs PIP insurance

What is MedPay coverage?

Medical Payments

coverage, or MedPay, is only required in two states:

Maine

and

New Hampshire

. MedPay benefits cover medical expenses for the insured and all drivers listed on the insured’s policy, as well as the insured’s household family members and their passengers.

Depending on state laws, MedPay can function as primary medical coverage, or it can supplement your existing health insurance coverage. MedPay’s scope is limited, so it’s often used in tandem with other policies. It offers unique types of coverage that make it worth considering even on its own.

MedPay pays out quickly, regardless of who’s at fault, meaning you won’t have to wait through a lengthy court process to get your medical bills covered.

MedPay has no deductibles or copays.

You’re covered if you’re injured as someone else’s passenger, if you’re on public transportation, or if you’re injured by a driver while walking or cycling.

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What is PIP coverage?

Personal injury protection

, or PIP insurance, is similar to MedPay, but it’s much more comprehensive. PIP pays for a policyholder’s medical expenses related to bodily injury, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. The following

no-fault

and

traditional tort

liability states require PIP as part of their minimum auto insurance coverage:

If you’re injured in an accident, you’ll file a PIP claim with your own insurance provider rather than dealing with the other driver’s auto insurance company.

PIP benefits vary by state, but can include the following coverages:

Medical expenses. Co-pay may be required, and not all states require 100% reimbursement, but covered medical costs can include: ambulance/paramedic, doctors and surgeons, hospitalization, nursing care, medication, drugs and medical supplies, psychiatric care, imaging, X-rays, laboratory tests, rehabilitation, prostheses, dental care, optical treatment, and chiropractic services.

Lost wages. Partial or full coverage of lost income due to injury. May also cover wages for temporary employees hired to cover labor for self-employed individuals.

Child care and household expenses. Partial or full coverage of wages for service providers to care for children and home maintenance while you recover from your injuries.

Funeral expenses. Covers ceremonies, burial expenses, and cremations

Survivors’ loss. Covers primary household wage earner’s income for surviving dependents.

MORE:

What do I do after a car accident?

How do MedPay and PIP work?

To determine how PIP and MedPay work, the first thing you need to know is whether you live in a no-fault or traditional tort liability state. In tort liability states—which account for most U.S. states—the at-fault driver pays for the accident victim’s property damage and personal injuries. In no-fault states plus Oregon, Maryland, and Delaware, drivers’ PIP policies pay for personal injuries.

In contrast, at-fault drivers—or their

liability coverage

—pay for damage to the other driver’s car after an auto accident.

Key Takeaway In no-fault states, drivers must purchase
collision coverage
to have damage to their own car covered if they’re at fault in a car accident.

Finding cheap car insurance coverage that includes MedPay or PIP

Finding

cheap car insurance

can be difficult enough on its own, but when you add in requirements for MedPay or PIP it can start to feel impossible—unless you’re shopping with the

Jerry

app.

Not only is shopping for insurance with Jerry easy, but it’s also fast. All you need is 45 seconds and Jerry’s licensed brokers will compare quotes from more than 50 top providers to bring you customized quotes at great prices. Customers save an average of over $800 a year on their car insurance premiums when they switch with Jerry!

“
Jerry
had a super simple app that was easy to navigate. And their terrific customer service made everything even easier. Plus I saved $700 in a single year.” —Lucia M.