Why does commercial auto coverage not automatically include medical payment coverage?

The reason that commercial auto coverage does not automatically include medical payment coverage is primarily due to the interactions between different types of insurance policies, particularly workers' compensation. In many situations, individuals occupying commercial vehicles—such as employees driving those vehicles—are typically covered under a workers' compensation policy. This coverage is designed to address medical expenses and lost wages for workers injured while performing job-related duties.

Since workers' compensation addresses these needs for employees, insurers often do not see the necessity of including medical payments coverage in the commercial auto policy as a default option. This helps streamline coverage and avoid redundancy, as it would be unnecessary to have multiple sources providing the same type of medical coverage for employees, which can also keep insurance costs manageable for businesses.

Other options suggest either an insistence on self-insurance, a limitation of commercial auto coverage, or requirements for personal auto policies, which don't accurately reflect the dynamics and primary functions of commercial auto insurance in relation to workers' compensation.