In every standard homeowners insurance policy, there is a section called Medical Payments insurance, also known as Coverage F. This coverage is used to pay for the minor injuries of other people, whether or not you are responsible.
What is medical payments coverage
Medical Payments coverage is a standard part of your homeowners insurance that protects you if guests are injured on your property, whether you’re responsible for the accident or not. Unlike Personal Liability coverage, it is only used to cover expenses related to minor injuries, such as X-rays, ambulance rides and physical therapy. As a result, Medical Payments coverage has a low maximum limit—usually between $1,000 and $5,000.
Medical Payments coverage is especially valuable because it doesn’t matter who was at fault for the incident. Not only does this insurance help prevent arguments over who’s to blame, but it can also help prevent costly lawsuits from being filed.
How is it different from Personal Liability coverage?
Although Medical Payments coverage may sound similar to Personal Liability coverage, there are some significant differences between the two. For example, Medical Payments has relatively low limits, it only covers minor injuries, and it won’t cover any legal fees if the injured party decides to sue.
Here are the differences:
| Medical Payments Coverage | Personal Liability Coverage |
| Applies no matter who is at fault for the incident | Only applies if you are responsible for the incident |
| Has low coverage limits; usually between $1,000 to $5,000 | Has much higher coverage limits; usually between $100,000 and $500,000 |
| Does not cover property damage | Covers property damage |
| Does not cover legal fees | Covers your legal defense in a lawsuit |
What does medical payments coverage pay for
Medical Payments coverage helps pay for expenses related to minor injuries that occur on your property, regardless of who is at fault. In most cases, your insurance carrier will reimburse the injured party for the following:
- Health insurance deductibles and copays
- Doctor or hospital visits
- Minor surgeries
- X-rays
- Prosthetic devices
- Ambulance and emergency technician fees
- Professional nursing services
- Physical therapy
- Dental work
- Funeral services
It’s important to note that the injury does not always have to occur inside your home, either. If your dog bites someone in the park, for example, Medical Payment coverage may be able to cover that, as well.
What are some examples of Medical Payments claims?
Here are two examples that might help explain Medical Payments coverage a little bit better:
Scenario #1
A guest trips on your deck while texting and chips their tooth. Because it’s a minor injury, Medical Payments could take care of their dental bills.
Scenario #2
A neighbor slips on your icy driveway, resulting in a sprained ankle. Medical Payments coverage may cover their X-ray and hospital visit.
On the flip side, if either of these incidents resulted in a broken ankle and a lawsuit, the potential cost to you would be far greater. As a result, your Personal Liability insurance would be a better fit for the claim.
Does Medical Payments insurance cover injuries away from the home?
Yes, sometimes. Check out the table below to see when your Coverage F may help pay for injuries that occur away from your home.
| Off-Premises Incident | Example |
| Injury was caused by a pet | Your dog bites someone while you’re out for a walk |
| Injury was caused by you | You accidentally hit someone with a golf ball in the park |
| Injury was caused by a household employee | Your housekeeper drops a heavy package of yours on someone’s foot at the post office |
| Injury was caused by a condition in your home | Your home has mold growth and a guest gets sick after leaving the premises |
What does it not pay for
As long as the injury was minor, Medical Payments coverage will protect you under most circumstances—but not all. Most notably, this coverage won’t apply if the injured person lives in your home, or if your home is uninsured.
Additionally, Medical Payments coverage won’t apply if the injury was caused by:
- An expected or intentional act
- Business that took place at your house
- A failure to render professional services
- A communicable disease
- Corporal punishment or physical or mental abuse
- Controlled substances
- War
How much coverage do I need
If you own a house or condo, your home insurance policy will come with at least $1,000 in Medical Payments coverage, which could be enough. However, you can typically raise your Coverage F limit to $5,000 per incident.
If you decide to file a Medical Payments claim with your insurance carrier, and you have a $5,000 maximum, your insurer could take care of any injury-related expenses up to that limit.
