Medical Payments Coverage for Seniors in Hawaii
Medical payments coverage pays medical bills for you and your passengers after a crash, no matter who caused it.
Yes, it covers you and your passengers regardless of fault
Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, pays for medical costs after a car accident whether you caused the crash or someone else did. For a driver in Hawaii, that includes injuries to you, injuries to anyone riding in your car, and in many cases injuries you suffer as a pedestrian or in someone else's car.
It pays before any lawsuit is settled and before fault is decided, which can take a long time to sort out after a serious accident. Whether it's worth carrying depends on what your health insurance already covers and how much you'd want set aside specifically for accident-related bills.
What your health insurance already covers
The biggest factor in whether MedPay makes sense is what gaps exist in your current health coverage. If you have Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, you likely have coverage for hospital stays and doctor visits, but deductibles, copays, and coinsurance can still add up after an accident.
MedPay can cover those out-of-pocket costs that your health plan leaves to you. It can also pay costs health insurance doesn't touch at all, like a passenger's deductible if they're on a different plan, or costs before your health coverage kicks in.
If you're not sure what your current plan leaves uncovered after an accident, that's worth a call to your health insurer before you decide how much MedPay to carry, if any.
Some people carry MedPay specifically so a spouse or grandchild riding with them has coverage even if that passenger has thin health insurance of their own.
How it differs from personal injury protection
Hawaii requires personal injury protection, or PIP, on every auto policy, and that's different from MedPay. PIP is mandatory and pays for a broader range of accident-related losses, including some lost wages, while MedPay is optional and usually covers medical bills specifically.
Because PIP is already required, some drivers find that adding MedPay on top duplicates coverage they already have through PIP. Others add it because PIP limits can be used up quickly after a serious injury, and MedPay provides another layer.
Ask your insurer how your state's PIP requirement interacts with any MedPay you're considering, since the overlap and the value of adding MedPay can depend on the specific PIP limits on your policy.
This is worth working through with your agent rather than guessing, since the right amount of MedPay depends on numbers specific to your policy.
Questions people ask about this
does MedPay cover a passenger in my car who isn't a relative?
Yes, MedPay typically covers anyone riding in your car at the time of the accident, not just family members. The coverage follows the vehicle and the policy, not the relationship between you and your passenger. Check your policy's definition of covered passengers to be sure, since some policies have specific language about who qualifies.
can I use MedPay if I'm hit while walking, not driving?
In many cases, yes, MedPay from your auto policy can cover you if you're struck by a vehicle while walking. This depends on the specific policy language, so it's worth asking your insurer directly whether pedestrian injuries are included under your MedPay coverage.
does MedPay coverage affect my Medicare benefits?
MedPay and Medicare typically work independently, with MedPay often paying first for accident-related medical costs before Medicare is billed. The coordination between the two can vary, so ask your insurer how claims are processed when you already have Medicare, so you understand the order in which each pays.
do I need MedPay if I already have good health insurance?
It depends on what your health insurance leaves uncovered, such as deductibles, copays, or coverage gaps for passengers on a different plan. Some drivers with strong health coverage still carry MedPay because it pays quickly after an accident without the delays of a health insurance claim.
does filing a MedPay claim affect my car insurance rate?
This depends on your insurer, since some treat MedPay claims differently from at-fault accident claims when it comes to renewal pricing. Ask your insurer directly how a MedPay claim is factored into future premiums before you file, so there are no surprises at renewal.
See how MedPay options and limits compare across insurers before you decide what to add.
Pull out your current auto policy and look for a line labeled medical payments or MedPay, and note whether it's there and what the limit is. Call your health insurer and ask what you'd still owe out of pocket after a car accident, including deductibles and copays. Ask your auto insurer how MedPay would interact with Hawaii's required PIP coverage on your specific policy. If you have passengers who regularly ride with you, such as a spouse or grandchildren, ask whether their health coverage would leave gaps MedPay could fill. Bring these notes with you when you compare quotes, since the right MedPay limit depends on the answers above, not a standard amount.
