After a car crash in Pennsylvania, one of the first insurance questions is who pays the medical bills. The answer usually starts with your own policy, through something called first-party benefits. Pennsylvania requires them on every auto policy, and they generally apply regardless of who caused the crash.
What First-Party Benefits Include
| Benefit | What It Generally Covers | Required or Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Medical benefits | Reasonable and necessary medical treatment after a crash | Required, with a minimum set by state law; higher limits are available |
| Income loss | A portion of lost wages while you recover | Optional |
| Funeral benefits | Funeral expenses after a fatal crash | Optional |
| Accidental death | A set benefit paid after a covered death | Optional |
| Combination benefits | A package that bundles several of the benefits above | Optional |
Who Is Usually Covered
- The policyholder and resident relatives in the household
- Passengers in an insured vehicle, depending on their own coverage
- Pedestrians and cyclists struck by an insured vehicle in Pennsylvania, in many cases
How First-Party Benefits Work With Health Insurance
In Pennsylvania, auto medical benefits generally pay first for crash-related treatment, and health insurance typically picks up after those benefits are used. State law also includes cost containment rules that limit what providers can charge for crash-related care paid through auto insurance. Coordination can get technical, so it’s worth reviewing both policies together.
Why the Minimum May Not Be Enough
The required minimum medical benefit can be used up quickly after a serious injury. Higher limits, income loss coverage, and combination benefits can help fill gaps, especially for households without strong health or disability coverage.
Reviewing Your Choices
First-party benefits are separate from your tort option, liability limits, and uninsured motorist coverage, so each is worth a look. Our post on parking lot accidents covers another everyday auto question.
Patriot Insurance Group in Camp Hill, PA can walk through your first-party benefit options. For questions about a specific injury claim, a Pennsylvania attorney can help. Drivers across Camp Hill, PA and Cumberland County can reach out to Patriot Insurance Group anytime.
