Yes, you can with most carriers. According to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI), the insurance regulator for NJ, Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage is automatically included in your automobile coverage; however, you can opt for a higher limit than the $1000 minimum provided you pay the increased premium, which is normally very affordable.

It is complicated in New Jersey. You can purchase PIP, Additional PIP and Medical Payment/Expense Coverage. Hopefully, this will explain each option to you.
These are the PIP options in NJ:

PIP – medical expense coverage pays for medical expenses incurred during an auto accident. The coverage limit you choose reflects the maximum amount that will be paid per accident.

Personal injury protection coverage is mandatory in New Jersey. If you’re insuring multiple cars, the coverage you select will apply to each car.

PIP covers your reasonable expenses if you or your passengers are injured in an auto accident, regardless of fault. You may choose from 4 types of PIP coverage. All 4 include medical coverage, as either primary or secondary coverage. Medical expenses may include medical and surgical treatment; dental and optometry treatment; ambulance and nursing services; necessary medications, medical supplies, and prosthetic devices. The 4 options are:

• Full PIP Primary— acts as the primary coverage for injuries sustained by you or your passengers in an auto accident. This option also covers income continuation, funeral expenses, death benefits, and essential services expenses, as detailed below.
• Full PIP Health Primary— should be purchased if another health insurance provider acts as the primary coverage for injuries sustained by you or your passengers in an auto accident. This option also covers income continuation, funeral expenses, death benefits, and essential services expenses, as detailed below. Please note: Full PIP Health Primary is not available if you use Medicare or Medicaid as your primary health insurance or if you're an active member of the military. Also, some health insurers do not cover injuries related to car accidents. If you're unsure of what your health insurance covers, you should select Full PIP Primary or Medical Only PIP Primary.
• Medical Only PIP Primary— acts as the primary coverage for injuries sustained by you or your passengers in an auto accident.
• Medical Only Health Primary— should be purchased if another health insurance provider acts as the primary coverage for injuries sustained by you or your passengers in an auto accident. Please note: Medical Only Health Primary is not available if you use Medicare or Medicaid as your primary health insurance or if you're an active member of the military. Also, some health insurers do not cover injuries related to car accidents. If you're unsure of what your health insurance covers, you should select Full PIP Primary or Medical Only PIP Primary.

  Additional coverage included in Full PIP:

  • Income continuation– If a covered individual is unable to work, PIP will help pay for income compensation.
  • Funeral expenses– If a covered individual dies from accident-related injuries, PIP will pay a maximum of $1,000 towards funeral expenses.
  • Death benefits– If a covered individual dies from accident-related injuries, PIP will pay the insured’s designated beneficiary $5,200 less any income continuation benefits paid to the income producer before death.
  • Essential service expenses– Should you or your passengers need help performing household or other tasks due to accident-related injuries, PIP also helps pay for such substitute services.

In addition to PIP, some carriers offer Medical Payment coverage:

Medical payments is an optional coverage that pays for medical and dental treatment, hospitalization, professional nursing services, prostheses, and funeral expenses if a covered driver and/or accompanying passengers are injured while in an insured vehicle, regardless of who is at fault in the accident.

Medical payments may also cover policyholders and their family members when they are injured while riding in someone else's car or when they are hit by a car while on foot or bicycling.

If you and your regular passengers already have health insurance that covers similar expenses, medical payments coverage may be unnecessary.

Check your health insurance policy for details. Since it also covers your passengers, medical payments coverage may be a good idea if others frequently ride in your car.

The coverage limit refers to the maximum amount that will be paid per person, per accident.

For information on New Jersey insurance policies and what required and optional coverages are available you can get a quote here with us. If you have more detailed questions about the different types of policies available (standard or basic), etc you can speak with our agents at 1-800-964-4849.

You can also contact the NJ DOBI for information on NJ laws regarding PIP and Medpay and other types of auto insurance coverages in New Jersey.