UPDATED: JULY 06, 2023 | 2 MIN READ
What happens when someone gets injured in your home? Most renters and home insurance policies include personal liability coverage to help you avoid paying legal fees. But what about their medical costs? Who covers those? It might be you — but medical payments coverage can help.
What Is Medical Payments Coverage On Your Home Policy?
Medical payments coverage is a form of liability insurance that helps pay for minor expenses. It helps guests with medical costs. It’s typically available as an option on most home insurance policies.
What does it cover?
It helps cover the medical costs of someone who’s hurt on your property — even if they don’t have health insurance. It covers expenses including:
- X-rays
- Minor surgeries
- Ambulance rides
- Dental costs
- Physical therapy
These policies typically cover $1,000 – $5,000 per incident, which is why it only helps cover smaller medical issues.
What doesn’t it cover?
A medical payment policy won’t help you pay for injuries to anyone who lives in the household. It also won’t help you pay for any legal expenses you are dealing with due to a guest’s household injury. Instead, personal liability covers that. Also, it won’t cover large medical bills.
Is it a home policy requirement?
No, medical payments coverage isn’t a requirement. However, you’re responsible for injuries to guests on your property so it’s good to have. In the case of an accident, it can work together with your personal liability policy to be a financial lifesaver.
What’s the Difference Between Medical Payments Coverage and Liability?
Here’s the difference:
- Medical payments coverage covers health costs for injured guests.
- Personal liability coverage protects your money and your assets in a legal case if a guest sues you.
Used for low-risk injuries
Medical bills can get extremely pricey in the United States. Medical payments coverage only covers $1,000 – $5,000. This type of coverage is only used to help cover low-risk injuries.
Won’t cover property damage costs
No. It doesn’t cover property damage costs at all. It’s only to help cover a guest’s medical expenses.
Lower limit than your liability coverage
Personal liability coverage can cover anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000. However, medical payments coverage caps at $5,000 — way lower than liability coverage.
How Much Medical Payments Coverage Do You Need?
Home or renters insurance policies typically cover at least $1,000 per incident. You might find that’s more than enough for you. However, you can raise it to $5,000 per incident. In the end, the coverage amount is your choice. If you want more protection, choose a $5,000 policy.
FAQs
What things are excluded from your medical payments coverage?
Here are incidents that are excluded:
- Expected or intentional injuries
- Injuries that are caused by failure to seek professional services
- War
- Physical or mental abuse
- Injuries caused by controlled substances
- Communicable diseases
What’s the difference between liability and medical payments coverage?
When someone is hurt on your property, or you hurt someone accidentally, you may need both. Liability covers legal bills. Medical payments coverage takes care of the doctor and hospital bills. They work together.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover personal injury to the homeowner?
No. If you’re hurt, your health insurance pays your bills. Same with anyone who lives in the house.
What type of coverage is Coverage F?
Coverage F covers medical bills. It’s another term for medical payments coverage.
What’s the difference between Coverage E and Coverage F?
Coverage F covers medical costs, while Coverage E covers legal expenses.
Medical payments coverage is quite a valuable homeowners insurance feature. However, policies don’t always include this coverage. You may need to ask for it when you purchase your policy. If you’re looking for the best homeowner’s insurance policy, use our online tool to compare rates.
