Author Topic: Insurance: You may not be as covered as you think!! (Read 3572 times)

vadim · « **on:** April 12, 2006, 08:58:55 PM »

As was discussed in one of the threads on the board a while back if you are injured in a motorcycle accident your health insurance, even if you have it, will not necessarily cover your medical bills. Fortunately, mine does, but my girlfriend is not covered by her plan - and she just got a bike. So the question is - what happens if you are injured? If you are at fault and you don't have additional coverage, you are pretty screwed by default. However, it seems like even if you are not at fault, the other driver's insurance will not necessarily pay your bills! I am still trying to find out how this works in NY, but here's what I've found for NJ (where No Fault laws also do not apply to motorcycles):

<< Who pays my medical bills if I am injured in an accident?

There is no automatic, standard medical payment provision with motorcycles as there is with private passenger automobiles.

Most motorcycle insurance policies and agents do not offer medical bill coverage. However, some companies do offer the option to purchase $1,000.00, $2,500.00, and $5,000.00 for medical coverage.

If you do not have this coverage, the answer to this question depends on the particular facts of your situation.

If you are riding your own motocycle or on a resident relative's motorcycle when you are injured you have no medical coverage from any source OTHER THAN your personal health insurance.

If you are riding on ANOTHER PERSON'S motorcycle and you also own a car with insurance then you are entitled to receive medical payments from a provision of your automobile insurance called "extended medical benefits".

If you live with a relative who has his own automobile insurance you can also get the benefit of his extended medical benefits in addition to your own. All New Jersey automobile policies provide $1,000.00 in extended medical benefits and for an extra $1.00 premium that is increased to $10,000.00. Therefore, if you are injured on a friend's motorcycle, you have your own car insurance, you live with a relative who has his own car insurance, and you both have the increased coverage, you will be entitled to $20,000.00 in medical insurance.

If you are riding your own or a resident relative's motorcycle, you will have no coverage from any source other than your own private health insurance unless you purchased medical coverage on your motorcycle. >>

Here's a repost of a message from the board

<<
in april i got in an accident with my bandit. collided with a car at about 30mph (his fault completely)...

and let me tell you of the joys of new jersey auto insurance. i have to pay ALL the medical bills out of pocket. NJ motorcycle insurance carries no medical coverage. my auto insurance policy denies payment because they won't cover anything with less than 4 wheels. the guy that hit me is not responsible AT ALL for my medical bills because new jersey has "no fault" medical coverage. my personal medical coverage denies claim because it was an auto accident.
$35,000 down the tubes. yay
and it wasn't even my fault.
so you should all call your insurance carriers and make sure at least one of them will cover you if you get in a motorcycle accident. i stupidly assumed and i was not covered at all.>>

So, the question to you my riding friends... Did you know about this? Do you know how it works? Is it really the case that if the other party is at fault their auto insurance will not cover you? It seems to me like the only thing you can do is get a good lawyer :(

LowRyter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2006, 09:43:12 PM »

I've had extremely bad experiences with insurance companies for the last few years. Odd deal, since I am 52 years old, have good credit, and virtually debt free.

I've noticed that many businesses now are unscrupulous. It's a sign of the times. Greed has taken over, employees now cheat customers as matter of company policy. It's the price of gas, food, insurance, utilities, etc. Anywhere you can get gouged, they try it. It is a competitive market, but for profitability. Now more & more companies try to screw people for the last dime.

I've never seen it this bad in my lifetime.

And never imagined it even 6 years ago.

Vidrazor · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2006, 03:05:55 PM »

>>...your health insurance, even if you have it, will not necessarily cover your medical bills. Fortunately, mine does...<<

Who's your carrier, and what policy do you have? Are you SURE you have this coverage?

vadim · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:17:05 PM »

I have Oxford "Freedom Plan" from my employer. I called them on two different occasions (just to make sure) and they said that while my auto/bike coverage would be primary if I don't have it they would step in and cover my bills. Do you have any reason to believe the reps are wrong? Thx.

Old_n_Slow · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2006, 05:01:36 PM »

"So the question is - what happens if you are injured?"

Just be sure to be injured by someone who HAS insurance !

vadim · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2006, 05:26:12 PM »

Either that, or purchase good SUM coverage - which I did. The problem is that it's pretty hard to sue a pot hole, oil spill or an errant deer. And while we are all carefull - or hope to be and read smart books like Proficient Motorcycling (I just finished the second one) no-one is guaranteed to never crash nomatter how careful they are. And if they are lucky enough to survive it would be kinda nice to have some coverage. Those medical bills pile up plenty quick I reckon.

Vidrazor · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2006, 06:31:45 PM »

>>I have Oxford "Freedom Plan" from my employer.<<

Hmmm, interesting. I have the same plan through my employer. I live in 'Jersey, but work in NYC.

>>Do you have any reason to believe the reps are wrong?<<

It's not that I think the reps are "wrong" per se, it's just that oftentimes such statements are made but fine print comes out of the woodwork when the shit hits the fan.

Something I've been wondering about recently is why organizations like the AMA haven't created medical coverage specifically for bikers. I also scuba dive, and my Divers Alert Network membership covers me for dive accidents, which are typically also not covered under regular health plans. Scuba diving is also considered another high risk write-off by insurance carriers.

The AMA is of course a motorcycle manufacturer's puppet organization, and the motorcycle manufacturers could care less what happens to a biker once they have cash in hand, so I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised about this. Still, it would be in the motorcycle manufacturer's best interest to do such a thing.

Alas...

LowRyter · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2006, 07:24:50 PM »

Quote from: "vadim"

I have Oxford "Freedom Plan" from my employer. I called them on two different occasions (just to make sure) and they said that while my auto/bike coverage would be primary if I don't have it they would step in and cover my bills. Do you have any reason to believe the reps are wrong? Thx.

most car insurance have a $10k medical, and subrogation with health insurance. If you have no health insurance, I guess you have the $10k and nothing. If you are in a "no fault" state and have all kinds of loop holes, you really have nothing. I've heard about some of this no fault stuff before, regardless, it should not be an excuse for loop holes like that.

I would guess you could still sue the guy that ran over you.

Vidrazor · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2006, 11:50:22 AM »

>>Either that, or purchase good SUM coverage - which I did.<<

What specifically is that, I'm not familiar with the term. Is this a coverage in addition to your standard coverage, or does it replace it? What exactly does it cover?

Red01 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2006, 11:52:45 AM »

Quote from: "LowRyter"

I would guess you could still sue the guy that ran over you.

And hope they can pay.

A friend of mine had his truck, car trailer and Jeep wrecked by some gal while he was motoring down the freeway. She was uninsured and didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. For some reason, he hadn't opted for UIM coverage, so his losses came out of his pocket.

Pics of the carnage.
Amazingly, there were no serious injuries!

kev25v6 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:01:33 PM »

im glad that here in the uk we have a national health service so we dont have to fork out for medical bills.

mike · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:41:21 PM »

I had Progressive before I was disabled and had to quit riding. But I always carried additional medical on the bike policy during late spring, summer, early fall. And actually increased it right before bike trips. The rate was adjustable and I just had a credit or debit on the next bill.. Peace of mind... May not really help in a bad accident, but would for broken bones or orthopedic surgery if that ever happened... I broke my ankle when I was 19 on a MX bike, seemed like just a broken bone to me, but the hospital bill for surgery (plate screw) etc... when all finished was like 12K. ouch!

deepink · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2006, 12:06:46 AM »

FWIW -

My insurance agent is also a good friend of mine - since before she had anything to do with insurance.

I have a PIP (personal injury protection) that covers anyone I do damage to if it's my fault. And myself.

Granted - I pay almost $90 a month (more than my truck insurance), but it's nice to know it is there.

Daytona · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2006, 11:35:46 AM »

When they come to pick you off the pavement or from under the cage! Remember the magic words " No speaking Englis " get free medical magic words/EZ button!