Understanding the Medical Coverage in Your RV Policy

Medical Payments, Personal Injury Protection, Uninsured Motorist Coverage, and Undersinsured Motorist Coverage-what each covers can get a little cloudy. While each serves its own specific purpose, all of them complement each other.

Medical Payments, often referred to as Med Pay, covers medical bills and funeral expenses arising out of an auto accident. This coverage applies to anyone riding in the insured vehicle.

Personal Injury Protection, commonly referred to as PIP, goes beyond Medical Payments. In addition to medical expenses, PIP also pays for lost wages and household services. If the insured is unable to work or perform household duties because of an accident, regardless of who is at fault, PIP provides coverage. PIP extends to the insured and resident relatives, whether in a vehicle or a pedestrian. The availability of PIP coverage is regulated by each state.

Like Med Pay and PIP, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverages pay for medical expenses, but can include payments for compensatory damages-like pain and suffering-as well. This coverage is used if the person liable for the accident does not have insurance (uninsured) or does not have enough insurance (underinsured) to cover the insured's injuries. It also pays if a hit-and-run driver injures the insured or if the insurance company of the liable person becomes insolvent. These coverages extend to all occupants of the insured vehicle.

The medical coverages on an RV policy tend to be the least expensive part of the policy in most cases (with Florida UM/UN as an exception). When you consider how much you have at stake, you can see why it's necessary to make sure you have the appropriate coverage limits on your policy.