(800) 253-1482PIP Coverage (Personal Injury Protection)
Summary: Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage isn’t available in all states but it is in Texas. You can protect yourself against a wide range of medical expenses following an accident. Even more so than Med Pay alone. Additionally, PIP coverage will also pay you for lost wages due to an injury. Estimated Read Time: 5 mins
Table of Contents:
- What Is PIP Coverage?
- How Does PIP Coverage Work?
- What Does Personal Injury Protection Coverage Not Cover?
- PIP Coverage vs. Med Pay Explained
- What States Have PIP Coverage?
- How Much PIP Coverage Should I Get?
Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is a great way to cover medical costs following a car accident. While not available everywhere, PIP coverage is available in Texas. Also known as no-fault insurance, you’re covered regardless of whether or not you cause the accident.
Both the medical expenses of you and your passengers are covered through your coverage helping you mitigate risks and safeguard your finances. Below, we’re exploring how PIP coverage can provide more protection against rising medical costs after an accident.
What Is PIP Coverage?
PIP coverage covers the medical expenses for you and your passengers if you are in a car wreck. It doesn’t matter who caused the car accident, your coverage is there for you. While not available everywhere, Texas no-fault insurance is available.
This protection is similar to medical payments coverage, however, PIP insurance coverage can help with a much wider range of costs while also providing higher coverage limits. While not required, all drivers must be offered the opportunity to receive at least $2,500 worth of PIP coverage in Texas.
How Does PIP Coverage Work?
Auto insurance with PIP coverage is protection for you to cover personal losses rather than another party’s. You and your passengers can receive coverage for necessary medical care stemming from the aftermath of an accident.
PIP coverage offers a wider range of coverage and can be helpful for many different healthcare costs. Furthermore, it can help you cover other related expenses that may not deal with healthcare but come about because of medical needs after an accident. Here’s what PIP covers:
Medical Expenses: This includes things such as getting an X-ray or seeing a physician after an accident.
Lost Wages Coverage: You can cover lost wages if you are unable to work because of your injuries.
Medical Devices: From crutches due to a sprained ankle to a prosthetic arm, if you need a medical device because of your wreck PIP medical coverage can compensate you for the expense.
Procedures From Specialists: Healthcare is multi-faceted. If you need treatment from specialists, such as for your eyes or dental care, you’re covered.
Surgeries: When surgery is needed, personal injury protection coverage will pay for your operation. A valuable feature, considering surgeries can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Nursing & Physical Therapy: Rehab after a car wreck can often be a process. If you require professional nursing or physical therapy as a part of your recovery, you can file a claim and receive assistance for your medical costs.
What Does Personal Injury Protection Coverage Not Cover?
PIP does not cover physical damage to the insured driver's vehicle after an at-fault accident. It also excludes property damage to another party. Furthermore, if your vehicle is damaged by something outside of an accident, such as the weather, it’s not covered.
If you have uninsured/underinsured coverage, you may find compensation after qualifying accidents for your losses. However, PIP coverage can still be beneficial in addressing bodily injuries in the aftermath.
Finally, all policies have limits. If you suffer a loss that exceeds the limits of your car insurance PIP coverage, it won’t be covered. There are options, however, for additional PIP coverage to increase your policy limits accordingly.
PIP Coverage vs. Med Pay Explained
Medical payments coverage or Med Pay is coverage for drivers that helps protect against medical costs after an accident. While similar to PIP, there are some differences.
The primary difference between PIP coverage and Med Pay is the scope of protection you’ll receive.
For example, policies with personal injury protection coverage often have higher coverage limits. PIP will also protect you against a wider range of medical costs as well as reimburse you for lost wages, unlike Med Pay.
What States Have PIP Coverage?
Not every state offers personal injury protection, and even some that do, won’t make it mandatory for drivers. Texas is a prime example, where PIP coverage is available, but it’s not mandatory. Here are the states that both offer PIP coverage and those which require it:
- Arkansas*
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire*
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota*
- Texas*
- Utah
- Virginia*
- Washington*
- Washington D.C.*
*Coverage is optional.
How Much PIP Coverage Should I Get?
Healthcare costs are rising at rates that continue to pose significant threats to the finances of most. This means a trip to the doctor can become an unpleasant financial hurdle for any family.
Following an accident, these costs can be even more severe as more healthcare services become necessary. The cost of your visit, x-rays, physical therapy, and possibly surgery can cost thousands of dollars to cover.
If you’re in an accident and someone else is at fault, the idea is that they should have liability coverage to cover your losses. However, not all drivers follow the law and even those that do may not have policy limits capable of covering your needs.
Everyone has different risk tolerances, but your auto insurance policy should be an affordable way to safeguard against major losses. PIP coverage does just that.
You’ll want to compare and shop around for your coverage to find the right level of protection at the most affordable price for your needs. Be sure to set appropriate policy limits for your coverage. Working with a licensed insurance agent can help.
