In our experience, USAA appears to deny more MedPay claims than other insurers. That leaves clients fighting to get medical bills covered that should clearly be paid under their policy, while hospitals and doctors keep billing them. If USAA is denying or delaying your MedPay claim, gather your records and talk to a lawyer.
What Is MedPay Coverage?
Medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, is extra coverage that USAA and many other insurance companies offer. If you have it on your auto policy, it will help pay for your medical expenses or those of your passengers after a crash, even in situations where you were at fault.
Some MedPay only covers small amounts, like $5,000. In Colorado, auto policies must include $5,000 of MedPay unless you turn it down in writing under C.R.S. § 10-4-635. This might sound like a lot, but if you’ve had to pay a medical bill recently, you know that $5,000 doesn’t go far in the medical world.
USAA offers quite large MedPay policies, sometimes up to $100,000, which can pay for a lot of medical care. The policies can also cover you if you’re injured as a pedestrian or as a passenger in someone else’s car.
USAA MedPay Denials and Delayed Payments
In our experience, USAA appears to deny more claims than other MedPay providers. As a result, clients often have to fight with USAA to get them to cover medical expenses that we believe should clearly be covered under the client’s policy. In the meantime, the hospitals and doctors who are owed the money continue to go after our clients for what’s owed, which can easily be thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
At Greer Law Group, we regularly deal with lots and lots of auto insurance companies. As a firm with many clients who were injured in vehicle crashes, we have to. As a result, we get to learn a lot more about insurance companies than most people who only deal with them when they sign up for the policy, make their monthly premium payment, and file a claim after a crash. USAA is one of those companies, and we have repeatedly seen the same issue with how they handle MedPay claims.
What to Gather for a MedPay Dispute
- Your policy declarations page
- Your medical bills
- Explanation of benefits statements
- Any denial letters
- Dated letters, emails and notes of calls with the insurance company
Reviewing Your Coverage Before Making a Decision
We’re not advising you to cancel your USAA policy if you have one, or to avoid USAA if you’re eligible (they only insure military members, veterans and their eligible family members). In our experience, USAA has done a lot of good for both the military community and our clients who have USAA policies. It’s just this area, payments of MedPay claims, where we’ve seen problems. We’re pointing this out so you have this information and can take it into account when you choose your auto insurer. Check out Marlo Greer’s TikTok comments on USAA to hear what she has to say about this.
Related Reading
- Who Pays Medical Bills After a Colorado Car Crash?
- Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Colorado: Your Options
- Insurance Recorded Statement Questions
Help With a Delayed or Denied MedPay Claim
If you were seriously or permanently injured in a crash, or if you have an insurance claim that your insurance company is dragging its feet on (whether it’s USAA or any other company), contact Greer Law Group for help. Your insurance company has lawyers; sometimes, the only way they’ll make the payments you’re entitled to is if they know you have lawyers too.
Call Greer Law Group today at 303-331-6460 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. You’ve paid your policy premiums; you’re entitled to receive the benefits.
