What is homeowners insurance medical payments to others coverage?

What does medical payments coverage cover?

Homeowners insurance Coverage F, known as medical payments to others coverage, may pay for medical expenses due to a covered incident, up to the coverage limit listed on your homeowners policy. In the event someone sustains an injury, this type of coverage may help with such things as:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital visits or stays
• Nursing services and care
• Ambulance and EMT fees
• Health insurance deductibles and co-pays
• Funeral expenses
• Surgery, X-rays, and dental procedures

What does medical payments coverage exclude?

It's important to note that you, the policyholder, are actually excluded from using the medical payments coverage. Medical payments coverage is meant for others, though it's not extended to someone contracted by you to do work in or outside of your home or any tenants who pay you to live at your residence. Remember that typically if money is being exchanged for a person being at your place of residence, medical payments coverage does not apply.

What's the difference between homeowners insurance liability and medical payments coverage?

Personal liability coverage on your homeowners policy helps protect you and your wallet if you're liable for injuries or damages. An example could be an icy sidewalk – as a homeowner, you're responsible for keeping driveways and walkways clear, and someone slipping on ice and injuring themselves could be deemed your negligence. If the injured party decides to sue you for their injuries, personal liability coverage may pay for the medical expenses and lawsuit costs, up to your policy's limit.

However, if that same person fell on your sidewalk and didn't sue you, you may be able to pay for their injuries with your medical payments to others coverage, up to your policy’s coverage limit. This type of coverage is different from your personal liability coverage because it applies regardless of fault.

How much medical payments coverage do I need on my homeowners policy?

Your coverage limit for medical payments to others depends on your insurer but is much lower than your personal liability coverage limit and often falls between $1,000 and $5,000. Medical payments to others coverage is generally included under all homeowners policies, and you may have the option to select among various coverage limits.

How do you submit a medical payments coverage claim?

When submitting a medical payments coverage claim, you'll work with your insurance provider to open a claim and submit any necessary documents. These documents may include some personal information regarding the person receiving treatment, a fully itemized bill from the medical provider, etc. Your insurance provider will let you know what's needed based on the specifics of the claim, and they'll rely on you to gather all supporting documents for the claim. Once approved, you would receive reimbursement for any medical payments you paid to another person.