Buying a home is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Protecting that investment with homeowners insurance is crucial. While the standard homeowners policy offers robust protections for your dwelling, belongings, loss of use and personal liability, there are additional optional coverages available for purchase. One such additional coverage is Coverage F, also known as Medical Payments to Others.
What is Coverage F?
Coverage F, or Medical Payments to Others, is an optional add-on coverage for your homeowners insurance policy. It provides limited medical expense payments to people injured on your property.
With Coverage F, your homeowners insurer pays covered medical expenses for injury treatment, regardless of who is at fault. This coverage kicks in for minor injuries that don’t warrant a liability claim.
Key things to know about Coverage F:
It covers medical expenses for injuries sustained by non-residents on your property.
There is no requirement to prove negligence or fault to receive payment.
It typically has a policy limit between $1,000 to $5,000.
It provides immediate medical expense payment without lengthy claims investigations.
How Does Coverage F Work?
Here are a few examples of how Coverage F would work in common home injury scenarios:
A neighbor’s child falls and breaks their arm in your backyard. Your Coverage F pays their $2,000 medical bill for the ER visit, arm cast and follow-up doctor appointment.
The mail carrier slips on your front steps and sprains their ankle. Coverage F covers their $1,500 urgent care bill for the exam, ankle brace and crutches.
A friend cuts their hand badly on broken glass while washing dishes at your home. Coverage F pays the $3,000 hospital bill for stitches and surgery on their hand.
In each case, the medical bills were promptly paid up to the Coverage F policy limits, regardless of fault. This allows your guest to receive timely treatment without waiting for a liability investigation.
What Does Coverage F Cover?
Coverage F provides payment for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred due to a bodily injury sustained by a non-resident on an insured location.
Here are some specific medical costs potentially covered by Coverage F:
- Ambulance transportation
- Hospital/ER services
- Doctor visits
- Lab tests/X-rays
- Surgery and anesthesia
- Prescriptions
- Nursing care
- Physical therapy
Key points about Coverage F medical payments:
Only non-resident bodily injury expenses are covered. Injuries to residents are excluded.
There is typically a small deductible, such as $250, that applies per injury.
Dental injuries may be covered, but regular dental exams/X-rays are excluded.
The medical treatment must be rendered within 1 year of the accident date.
Medical expenses are paid on a reimbursem*nt basis for bills incurred and paid.
What Does Coverage F Not Cover?
Since Coverage F is meant for minor medical expenses, there are notable exclusions. Coverage F does not pay for:
Injuries to the insured or residents of the residence.
Illness or disease not directly resulting from the injury.
Treatment rendered more than 1 year after the accident.
Injuries occurring off the insured premises.
Regular health exams, dental visits or eyeglasses.
Long-term care or custodial nursing home services.
In addition, once the per person and per accident limits are reached, no further medical expenses will be reimbursed under Coverage F.
Why Purchase Coverage F?
There are several good reasons to consider adding Coverage F to your homeowners policy:
Avoid liability claims – Coverage F pays small medical bills that could otherwise turn into a liability lawsuit against you. It prevents injured parties from claiming negligence just to have medical bills paid.
Foster goodwill – Paying an innocent visitor’s medical expenses shows you care, building goodwill. This is especially true for frequent visitors like grandparents, babysitters, housekeepers etc.
Faster payment – Coverage F pays medical bills immediately without a lengthy claims process. This allows the injured party to focus on recovery rather than bill payment.
Affordable premium – Coverage F can be added to a policy for an affordable premium, often just $50-$100 annually. This is a small investment compared to the protection it provides.
For minor mishaps that could happen to anyone, Coverage F allows you to do the right thing for your visitors. It’s an affordable way to build goodwill and avoid potential liability headaches down the road.
What is a Typical Coverage F Limit?
Coverage F policy limits generally range from $1,000 to $5,000 per person/per accident. Some insurers may offer increased limits up to $10,000 for higher premiums.
Here are some typical Coverage F limit options:
| Coverage F Limit | Estimated Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $50 |
| $2,000 | $75 |
| $3,000 | $100 |
| $5,000 | $125 |
Factors like your insurer, location and claims history can impact your actual premium. But in general, you can expect to pay $25-$50 more per year for each $1,000 increment of increased Coverage F protection.
Consider choosing a higher limit if:
- You host large gatherings frequently.
- Young children are regular visitors.
- Elderly visitors are prone to falls.
- You have unique risks like a pool or trampoline.
For most homes, a $3,000 or $5,000 limit provides adequate coverage for minor injuries. But analyze your specific risks and opt for a higher limit if warranted.
How to File a Coverage F Claim
Filing a minor medical claim under your Coverage F is relatively simple:
Step 1: Seek any necessary medical treatment for the injured person.
Step 2: Gather documentation like medical bills, receipts and accident details.
Step 3: Contact your insurance company promptly to report the accident. Provide dates, bills and explain how the injury occurred.
Step 4: The insurer will confirm eligibility and request additional documentation as needed.
Step 5: Once approved, the claim payment will be made directly to the injured party or medical provider.
Tips for smooth Coverage F claims:
Report the injury promptly, even if no treatment was required yet.
Keep thorough records of medical expenses tied to the accident.
Provide bills and documentation as requested by your insurer.
Follow up on claim status and payment if not resolved quickly.
With Coverage F, there is no need to prove liability or fault. The focus is simply proving an injury occurred and documenting the related expenses for reimbursem*nt under policy limits.
Is Coverage F Right for You?
Coverage F fills an important gap in home insurance – providing limited funds for guests’ minor medical bills. It prevents small injuries from turning into major insurance headaches.
As you review your homeowners policy, ask yourself:
Do you host events with many guests frequently?
Do small children visit who may get hurt easily?
Are elderly visitors at risk for slips or falls?
Does your property have risks like a pool, trampoline or steep stairs?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, Coverage F is likely a smart addition to your homeowners policy. For an affordable premium, you can take the drama out of minor accidents and show guests you care.
The Bottom Line
Coverage F, or Medical Payments to Others, is an optional homeowners insurance add-on that pays medical bills for injuries to non-residents on your property, regardless of fault. It prevents injured parties from claiming negligence just to have small medical expenses covered. For an affordable premium, typically $50-$150 annually, you can extend goodwill to guests, speed up payment of their medical costs and potentially avoid liability lawsuits. With frequent visitors and special risks, Coverage F fills an important gap in protection.
