Detailed Answer — What MedPay Is and How It Works in Indiana

Medical payments coverage is an optional portion of many auto insurance policies. It pays for reasonable and necessary medical expenses for you and covered passengers who are injured in an automobile accident, up to the limit you chose on the policy. MedPay is different from health insurance and from liability insurance for other people’s injuries. Because it pays regardless of fault, MedPay can provide fast help paying medical bills after a crash while fault and liability are being sorted out.

Who is covered?

Coverage varies by policy, but MedPay usually covers the named insured, family members living in the same household, and passengers in the insured vehicle. Some policies extend MedPay to the named insured when injured as a pedestrian or while riding in another vehicle. Check your policy declarations and the policy’s definitions section to confirm who is covered.

What expenses does MedPay typically cover?

• Emergency room care and hospital bills related to the crash.
• Ambulance transport, X-rays, diagnostic testing, and doctor visits for the crash injury.
• Some policies cover chiropractic, physical therapy, and dental care tied to the accident.

MedPay will not cover non-medical damages such as lost wages, pain and suffering, or vehicle damage; those are handled through liability or personal injury claims.

How MedPay interacts with fault-based claims and health insurance

MedPay does not affect your right to make a bodily injury claim against an at-fault driver. However, if your insurer pays MedPay and later recovers money from the at-fault party (subrogation), your insurer may assert a right to be repaid from the recovery. Also, if you have health insurance, MedPay can coordinate with it; the policy terms determine whether MedPay is primary or pays after health insurance.

Relevant Indiana consumer resources

For general questions about auto insurance rules and consumer protections in Indiana, consult the Indiana Department of Insurance: https://www.in.gov/idoi/. For information about vehicle crash reporting, see the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles: https://www.in.gov/bmv/. For the current Indiana statutes and codified laws, see the Indiana General Assembly site: https://iga.in.gov/.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a MedPay Claim in Indiana

1. Get safe and seek medical care first. Your health and safety come first. Get emergency care as needed and follow your medical provider’s instructions.
2. Report the accident to the police and get a copy of the report when available. Many insurers ask for a police report or incident details to support a claim.
3. Notify your auto insurer promptly. Call your insurer or use their online claims portal. Have your policy number, date/time/location of the accident, and names of people involved ready.
4. Submit documentation the insurer requests. Common items: itemized medical bills, medical records showing treatment was for the crash, emergency room records, ambulance bills, receipts, and proof of payment if you already paid the bills.
5. Sign required forms. Insurers commonly ask you to sign authorizations so they can obtain medical records and bills. They may also ask you to sign an assignment of benefits or lien agreement if they will pay providers directly.
6. Answer follow-up questions quickly. Respond to requests for additional proof or clarification so the claim doesn’t stall.
7. Understand payment and subrogation. If the insurer accepts the claim, they will pay up to your MedPay limit for covered expenses. If they later recover funds from the at-fault party’s insurer, they may assert subrogation rights to be reimbursed.

If Your MedPay Claim Is Denied or Delayed

Common reasons for denial include missed deadlines, insufficient proof tying treatment to the accident, treatment not considered reasonable and necessary, or the injury not covered by the policy’s definitions. If you disagree with a denial:

• Ask the insurer for a written explanation and exactly what evidence would change the decision.
• Provide additional medical records, physician statements, or corrected bills promptly.
• If the dispute continues, you may file a complaint with the Indiana Department of Insurance at https://www.in.gov/idoi/.
• Consider consulting an attorney if the denial affects a larger bodily injury claim or if the insurer improperly asserts subrogation that hurts your recovery.

When to Talk to an Attorney

Contact an attorney if you:

• Have injuries requiring long-term care or significant medical expenses exceeding policy limits.
• Face an insurer denial you cannot resolve through documentation and appeal.
• Are unsure how MedPay, health insurance, and a potential personal injury claim will interact (especially if a provider asserts liens).
• Need help protecting your rights when the at-fault party’s insurer refuses fair settlement.

An attorney can explain options, preserve evidence, and negotiate subrogation or provider liens when needed. This article does not replace legal counsel.

Helpful Hints

• Keep a dedicated folder (digital or paper) with: policy declarations, the accident report, photos, medical bills, medical records, and all insurer correspondence.
• Photograph visible injuries and vehicle damage as soon as possible after the crash.
• Tell every treating provider the injury was from a car accident so records will document linkage between treatment and the crash.
• Read your policy’s MedPay limit carefully (common limits: $1,000, $5,000, $10,000) and consider higher limits if you want better coverage for medical bills.
• If you have health insurance, keep proof of your coverage handy because insurers may coordinate benefits.
• Ask for itemized bills and receipts from providers; insurers usually require itemized statements to approve payment.
• If your insurer asks you to sign a form you don’t understand, ask for an explanation before signing.
• If you have questions about improper denials or insurer behavior, use the Indiana Department of Insurance consumer resources at https://www.in.gov/idoi/.