Texas injury law
Texas PIP and MedPay Coverage Explained
After an accident, your medical bills start accumulating immediately — long before the at-fault driver's insurance pays anything. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay) are first-party coverages that pay your medical bills regardless of who's at fault, giving you immediate access to funds while your liability claim develops. Texas requires insurers to offer PIP, and understanding the difference between PIP and MedPay helps you use both effectively. For city-specific resources, see our Texas accident guides.
Estimate my preliminary range Free · About 2 minutes · No contact information required to see your result
Prepared by Texas Settlement Calculator Editorial Team · Published 2026-08-16 · Editorial standards
What PIP covers
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays for reasonable and necessary medical expenses, and in Texas often a portion of lost wages, for you and your passengers after an accident — regardless of fault. Texas PIP typically covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 80% of lost income, up to your policy limits. Common PIP limits are $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000. PIP is no-fault, meaning your insurer pays even if you caused the accident, and it doesn't raise your premiums for using it (under Texas law).
What MedPay covers
Medical Payments (MedPay) is similar to PIP but narrower — it covers medical expenses only, not lost wages, for you and your passengers regardless of fault. MedPay limits are often $1,000 to $5,000. MedPay coordinates with health insurance: it can pay deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs your health insurance doesn't cover. Both PIP and MedPay apply immediately, without waiting for liability to be determined.
Texas requires PIP to be offered
Under Texas Insurance Code § 1952.041, insurers must offer PIP with every auto policy. You can reject it — but only in writing. As with UM/UIM, rejecting PIP to save a small amount on premiums is often a mistake, because PIP provides immediate, no-fault medical funds when you need them most. If you don't have a written rejection on file, the law presumes you have it.
How PIP and MedPay interact with your injury claim
PIP, MedPay and liability coverage involve different policy benefits and legal rules. Which benefits apply, what expenses are covered, and whether reimbursement or other offsets arise depend on the policy, payments and applicable Texas law. Use the free estimator for general educational context, not a prediction of insurance recovery.
Estimate your preliminary claim-value range
Get a free, Texas-focused educational range based on the information you report — no sign-up or obligation.
Estimate my preliminary rangeSee your result first · No contact information required · Attorney connection optional
Related Texas guides
Frequently asked questions
Is PIP required in Texas?
Insurers must offer it, but you can reject it in writing. If you don't have a written rejection on file, the law presumes you have PIP. Rejecting it to save a small amount on premiums is often a mistake, because PIP provides immediate, no-fault medical funds when you need them most.
What is the difference between PIP and MedPay in Texas?
PIP covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages; MedPay covers medical expenses only. Both are no-fault, meaning your insurer pays regardless of who caused the accident. PIP typically covers 80% of medical expenses and lost income up to your limits.
Can I use PIP and still sue the at-fault driver in Texas?
PIP and liability coverage are distinct, but the benefits, payment timing, covered losses and any reimbursement or offset issues depend on the actual policies and applicable Texas law. Coverage should be verified rather than assuming a particular payment or recovery sequence.
This tool produces a preliminary, non-binding estimate based on the information you provide and general personal-injury valuation methods. It is not legal advice, not a guarantee of any outcome, and not a substitute for review by a licensed attorney. Actual settlements and verdicts vary widely based on evidence, jurisdiction, insurance coverage, and many other factors. Texas Settlement Calculator is not a law firm and does not practice law; use of this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship.