Last Updated on October 25, 2026 by Syed Sarim Naqvi
Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage (MedPay) both pay accident-related medical bills regardless of fault, but PIP is broader, adding lost wages and other costs, and is required in no-fault states, while MedPay is a small optional add-on that Insurance.com puts at about $20 a year. The catch is the range: PIP minimums run from $2,500 in Maryland to $40,000 in Minnesota, and where PIP is required you generally do not need MedPay on top.
Key Takeaways
- Insurance.com says MedPay costs about $20 a year, while the average PIP cost is $191 a year where required, and Jerry puts PIP at $10 to $35 a month
- PIP limits range from $2,500 per accident to unlimited medical expenses, and Compare.com cites $10,000 in Florida, $40,000 in Minnesota and $2,500 in Maryland
- MedPay limits typically run $1,000 to $10,000 per person, and NerdWallet lists set amounts such as $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000
- PIP is required in the 12 no-fault states, plus four fault-based states according to ValuePenguin, while MedPay is required in Maine and New Hampshire according to Insurance.com
- MedPay has no deductible, per Jerry, and can pay medical and funeral costs, while PIP can add lost wages and household help
What Is the Difference Between PIP and MedPay?
Insurance.com explains PIP is broader, covering medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost wages and household expenses due to injury, and is required in no-fault states, while MedPay covers medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. NerdWallet adds MedPay helps pay medical expenses and funeral costs after a crash and is optional in most states. Both are no-fault coverages, meaning they pay without waiting to determine who caused the accident.
Do You Need MedPay if You Have PIP?
NerdWallet says if you have personal injury protection, you do not need MedPay. ValuePenguin takes a slightly different view: if your state’s required PIP limit is low, a MedPay policy may provide supplemental cover. Jerry says even with health insurance, MedPay or PIP can still be beneficial, because MedPay covers expenses with no deductible and PIP can help with services such as child care that health insurance does not.
| Feature | PIP | MedPay |
|---|---|---|
| What it pays | Medical, lost wages, funeral, household help | Medical and funeral costs |
| Required? | In no-fault states, plus some fault states | Maine and New Hampshire, per Insurance.com |
| Typical limits | $2,500 to unlimited medical | $1,000 to $10,000 per person |
| Reported cost | $191 a year average; $10 to $35 a month | About $20 a year |
| Deductible | Varies by policy | None, per Jerry |
How Much Do They Cost?
Insurance.com puts MedPay at about $20 a year and PIP at an average of $191 a year where required by law, noting that PIP’s cost is hard to separate because it is one part of mandatory cover and that PIP states often have higher total premiums. Jerry says PIP costs an average of $10 to $35 a month. ValuePenguin says the total cost of PIP depends on limit, deductible and state. As an illustration, $191 a year for PIP is about $16 a month, and MedPay at about $20 a year is under $2 a month.
Which States Require What?
Insurance.com says PIP is required in all no-fault states, which it counts as 12, and that MedPay is required in Maine and New Hampshire, while both are optional elsewhere. ValuePenguin says four fault-based states also require PIP in addition to the 12 no-fault states, and a Las Vegas law firm says 15 states require PIP, so counts differ by source. Compare.com notes Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland and Oregon require PIP while it is optional in other fault states, and says in choice no-fault states you can choose between no-fault and traditional tort coverage. NerdWallet says New Hampshire does not require auto insurance, but residents who buy it must buy MedPay.
What Should You Check?
- State rule: whether PIP or MedPay is required where you live
- Limits: compare with your health plan deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
- Lost wages: PIP may cover them; MedPay generally does not
- Passengers: check whether passengers are covered
- Overlap: avoid paying for both when the state’s PIP is generous
How Does This Connect to Other Auto Cover?
Injuries caused by drivers without insurance are covered in Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Explained, and riders in Motorcycle Insurance Explained. After a crash, see Total Loss Car Insurance Explained and Diminished Value Claims Explained. Added liability is in Umbrella Insurance Explained.
FAQ
What is PIP?
Personal injury protection, which pays medical bills, lost wages and other costs regardless of fault.
What is MedPay?
Medical payments coverage, which pays medical and funeral costs regardless of fault.
Which is required?
PIP in no-fault states; MedPay in Maine and New Hampshire per Insurance.com.
How much do they cost?
About $191 a year for PIP and $20 a year for MedPay, per Insurance.com.
Do I need MedPay if I have PIP?
NerdWallet says no; ValuePenguin says it may help if PIP limits are low.
Do they replace health insurance?
No. They can complement it and pay without a deductible in the case of MedPay.
What are typical limits?
MedPay $1,000 to $10,000; PIP from $2,500 to unlimited medical.
Glossary
- PIP: personal injury protection.
- MedPay: medical payments coverage.
- No-fault state: a state where your own insurer pays injury costs regardless of fault.
- Choice no-fault: a state letting you choose no-fault or tort cover.
- Tort state: a state where the at-fault driver pays.
Sources
- Insurance.com: PIP vs. MedPay Insurance ($20 and $191 averages, state rules, limits)
- Jerry: Medical Payments Coverage vs. PIP ($10 to $35 monthly, limits, no deductible)
- ValuePenguin: What Is Personal Injury Protection? (four fault-based PIP states, supplemental MedPay)
- Compare.com: No-Fault Car Insurance (Florida, Minnesota and Maryland minimums)
- NerdWallet: What Is Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage? (set limits, New Hampshire rule)
- Kutner law firm guide: PIP vs. Med Pay Insurance (15-state count)
Related reading: E-Bike Insurance Explained · Gap Insurance Explained · Own-Occupation Disability Insurance Explained
Published October 2026. Required coverages, limits and prices vary by state and insurer and change often; always read your state’s minimums and your policy limits, and refresh this article periodically. Counts of PIP states differ by source.
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