Will Home Insurance Cover Medical Expenses?

Home insurance is no replacement for health insurance. But you may be happy to know that your home insurance policy probably includes some protection for medical expenses.

Your home insurance policy offers coverage for medical expenses on two fronts: Medical payments owed to others, and personal liability.

Medical payments to others is a type of coverage that will help to cover visitors to your home. The protection is offered regardless of whether the homeowner is to blame. These payments generally have very low limits — typically somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000. Most policies do not have a set amount, but instead will have you choose between a few options. Medical payments will cover minor injuries suffered on your property, but not much beyond that. If someone cuts themselves in your backyard and needs stitches, medical payments to others should cover the costs so nobody is out of pocket.

Personal liability is a little more extensive. Liability coverage starts at $100,000, with experts recommending at least three times that amount. Liability can cover the costs of even severe physical injuries, extended hospital stays and beyond. However, liability only kicks in when the homeowner is found to be in some way responsible for the injuries sustained.

One of the risks that we take on as homeowners is the risk that someone might be injured on our property. This is a financial concern, of course, because we don't want to be out of pocket for the medical expenses. But more than that, we want to know that the expenses are covered should someone be hurt. Many homeowners invest in umbrella insurance, which is a sort of safety net that helps to cover basic insurance needs beyond the limits of your policies. In any event, your homeowners policy does provide you with options should someone suffer an injury on your property.

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