Med Pay: Ohio Supreme Court Decision

A recent Ohio Supreme Court decision allows health care providers (doctors, hospitals, therapists and other health care companies) to directly bill a person's auto company under the Medical Payment ["Med Pay"] provision first, that is before billing that person's health insurance company. We find this ruling to seriously impact consumers as often consumers need their Med Pay for other more personal needs, such as deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions, out of pocket expenses, and living costs. In other words, consumers do not want their Med Pay to be used up by providers when the consumers have health  insurance that should first  pay their health bills.

So, after years to telling people that they should purchase Med Pay when they buy automobile insurance, we are changing our opinion. First, if someone has health insurance, then it is far less preferable that the person buy Med Pay.  This will save the consumer money. Second, we believe that a consumer has the right to tell his or her auto carrier NOT to pay Med Pay to any providers and that the control of where these funds go should be with the consumer, not with the health providers. Third, we strongly encourage consumers to contact their car agent and discuss these matters as soon as possible.