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N651 Remark Code: No PIP or MedPay on the Auto Policy

N651 means the auto policy was in force but did not include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage at the time of the loss. Without that coverage, the auto carrier has no medical benefit to pay the bill from.

Quick facts

Code
N651 (RARC N651)
Status
Active In use since July 15, 2013.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The auto carrier reports the charges as not payable under this policy. The balance is not automatically a write-off; another payer may be responsible.
  • PR (Patient Responsibility): Used by some carriers to indicate the claimant is responsible. Check the patient's health insurance and any liability claim before billing the patient.
Official description
No Personal Injury Protection/Medical Payments Coverage on the policy at the time of the loss.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N651 means

An auto insurance policy is a bundle of separate coverages: liability, collision, comprehensive, and often a medical component called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (MedPay). The medical component is what normally pays a provider’s bills after a crash, without waiting for fault to be decided.

N651 tells you the policy existed on the date of loss but carried neither of those medical coverages. The carrier may still be involved in the accident claim for vehicle damage or liability, but it has no first-party medical benefit to pay you from.

This is a property and casualty remark. It does not describe a problem with the patient’s health insurance.

Why it happens

  • The policyholder declined MedPay, or lives in a state where PIP is not required.
  • The coverage was dropped or reduced before the accident.
  • You billed the patient’s policy when the patient was a passenger in someone else’s vehicle, where a different policy’s PIP might apply.
  • The carrier’s policy records are incomplete.

What to do

  1. Confirm with the adjuster that no PIP or MedPay applied under this policy on the date of loss.
  2. Ask about other auto policies that might apply, such as the vehicle owner’s policy or a household member’s.
  3. Bill the patient’s health plan, attaching the N651 remittance or denial and completing any accident questionnaire the plan requires.
  4. Track any liability claim and the patient’s attorney contact, if there is one, since a settlement may be a later source of payment.
  5. Bill the patient only when no other source applies and in line with state rules.

How to prevent it

Ask accident patients at intake for the auto policy’s declarations page or verify medical coverage with the carrier before treatment. Keep the patient’s health insurance information on file even when an auto claim is expected.

Codes that may appear with N651

  • PR-204 (This service/equipment/drug is not covered under the patient's current benefit plan): The service is not covered under the policy's current benefits.
  • CO-96 (Non-covered charge(s).): Non-covered charges, with N651 explaining the missing coverage type.
  • N650 (This policy was not in effect for this date of loss.): No policy at all was in effect on the date of loss.
  • N587 (Policy benefits have been exhausted.): The policy had medical benefits, but they have been exhausted.
  • N598 (Health care policy coverage is primary.): The health care policy is primary for this injury.

N651 FAQ

What is the difference between PIP and MedPay?

Both pay medical bills after an auto accident regardless of fault, but PIP is usually broader and is required in some no-fault states, while MedPay is often optional. What each covers depends on state law and the policy.

Should I bill the at-fault driver's insurer?

A liability claim against the at-fault driver's insurer is usually handled by the patient or their attorney and may pay only at settlement. Many providers bill the patient's health plan meanwhile.

Will the health plan pay after N651?

Often, if you include the auto carrier's denial. Some plans have subrogation or accident questionnaires that must be completed first.