Personal Injury Protection and Bikes

[rgramjet]

Just switched to a new health insurance company.  Customer service guy asks my wife if we have medical coverage for motorcycle related injuries.  She asked me and my response was "Of course I do.......I have full coverage".  He suggested I double check with my motorcycle insurer.

When I called my motorcycle insurer (State Farm), his response was that the state of MD does not require PIP for motorcycles.  He went on to say that it is NOT offered and he doesnt know of any company that does offer it. 

Doing some research now.   

[Timmy Tucker]

I've got full coverage on the bike with Nationwide, and it includes medical coverage for me. I don't remember the $$$ limit off hand. I got the policy from them specifically for the medical, since I lost my ins when I got laid off. IIRC, it also covers my gear too. I'll dig out my policy and look at the specifics.

[Timmy Tucker]

Just looked it up, my med coverage is $10K. It's not much, but it's all I can afford right now. I don't remember what higher limits were available. And gear is covered up to $2000.

I've got full coverage with uninsured motorist and the $10K med for $56/month. You may be able to do better because my driving record is a bit shady.

[zarn02]

I know I could have gotten PIP with Progressive (in Kansas, anyway), though it isn't required.

I ended up getting just "medical coverage" instead, as I honestly couldn't figure out what the extra premiums for PIP would do for me.

(Though maybe I'm just not the brightest cookie in the drawer, and need to have someone explain why PIP is more betterer than medical coverage.)

[Grappa]

$10K worth of medical coverage should be good... if you scrape your knee.  I am not totally sure, but I think medical bills/costs are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S.  I'll leave you with a quote from my dear old dad; "You can't afford to not be covered."  He is a doctor by the way.

[zarn02]

I can tell you that shoulder surgery (as the eventual outcome of a wreck) is about like buying a new car, though hopefully the depreciation isn't quite as bad.

Edited for shoddy memory, and not wanting to quote figures I don't have paperwork to support.

[Timmy Tucker]

$10K worth of medical coverage should be good... if you scrape your knee.  I am not totally sure, but I think medical bills/costs are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S.  I'll leave you with a quote from my dear old dad; "You can't afford to not be covered."  He is a doctor by the way.

I know. Dad had a heart attack a few years back, happened 2 weeks before his insurance kicked in. Had a quad bypass and just over a week stay. After it was all said and done, he was in for just under $150K. All of the doctors were great about it and worked their part down to around $5K. The hospital, however, will probably never be PIF in his lifetime.

[Spidey]

I didn't know that any insurers (at least in CA) would provide insurance for medical injuries to the rider.  Sure, if you hurt someone else your insurance might cover it under the liability component, but they're not going to cover your own medical expenses (from what I've seen).

I always look to my medical insurance, not my motorcycle insurance, to provide insurance for injuries.  The three things to look for with your medical insurance--particularly if its an HMO--are

(1) whether there are any moto-related exclusions (there shouldn't be, but check anyway);

(2) whether there is a lifetime cap (this is CRITICAL.  If you have a serious and lasting injury, it's not hard to burn through $1m in care.  I thought that the health-care reform bill did away with lifetime limits, but I don't know where I'm getting that from); and

(3) what sort of out-of-network emergency care they cover. The concerns there are the cost of a helicopter ride, when you need to notify them after an emergency that you're in an out-of-network hospital, and what percentage of the emergency care they're gonna cover.  Locally, we can buy helicopter insurance for $50/year.  For anyone who rides the twisties or goes to the track a lot, it's a great deal.  Most of the good roads require lifeflight, not an ambulance, to get you to a Level 1 trauma center.

[He Man]

my moto insurance (progressive) charges an extra $200 a year for $5000 worth of medical coverage for myself. thats their maximum.

its useless. my previous insuance also capped it at 5,000, but the rate was much chepaer, something like $30 a year.

either way, its better to get your self health insurance....which reminds me... i need to figure out how to do that again.

[DoubleEagle]

I have Progressive Ins. and have $5,000 in Medical coverage.

When I crashed , I used up all $5,000 in a heart beat.

Good thing I have medical Ins.

I think my bills came to around $75, 000.

ER then to Trauma Center for 3 days stay, two different Hospital stays , Surgeries, and beaucoup Doctor bills.

A trip on the Life Flight Helicopter is at least minimum $10,000.

Good medical Insurance...don't leave home with out it !

Dolph     

[muskrat]

if  you have medical insurance you don't need PIP.  BUT, and a big BUT, make sure your medical policy covers you wearing a helmet.  Some states don't have helmet laws and medical insurance companies can deny coverage if you weren't wearing one.  Aetna did that to someone here in Texas and were within their legal rights. 

[DoubleEagle]

If  you have medical insurance you don't need PIP.  BUT, and a big BUT, make sure your medical policy covers you wearing a helmet.  Some states don't have helmet laws and medical insurance companies can deny coverage if you weren't wearing one.  Aetna did that to someone here in Texas and were within their legal rights. 

Actually there is a loophole in a bill that passed in to Federal Law that if Insurance Companies don't want to cover motocycle injury medical bills the law is on their side according to what I read in the AMA's Motorcylist magazine.

Thankfully, the Insurance Companies hardly ever deny coverage for injuries....but unless that loophole is closed ...they could.

Your stated case is something specific to a rule that Insurance Company must have in their Policy exclusions for Motorcyclists.

Dolph        [moto]

[zarn02]

You're going to need to expound upon that Dolph. Or link a text of the bill, or whatever.

You're saying if they simply don't feel like covering, then I'm left to go make the beast with two backs right off?

Hm.

Well, at least I know my (mediocre) insurance will (sorta, for the most part) cover bike wrecks.

That said, I either need to get myself some gold-plated insurance, or plan on not hitting any more solid objects that wander into my path through red lights...

[rgramjet]

The brass plated health insurance policy we are/were looking at excludes motorcycle related injuries.  Broker is looking at costs to add coverage or start over. 

I need to get this straightened out before the weather turns nice........I've got 10 miles to ride this year!

[hooligan machinist]

 Only 10?