Why You Might Require PIP when You already Carry Health Insurance

Florida requires anyone in an accident to seek medical care within 14 days. When a qualifying injured party meets that expectation, their personal injury protection coverage only covers 80% of the costs of “reasonable” medical expenses up to the state’s $10,000 limit.

The good news is that the coverage applies even if you’re the one who caused the accident. The bad news is that it might be up to your health insurance to cover the rest. If you were on a motorcycle when the collision occurred, the healthcare coverage might not pick up the tab, leaving you to pay out of pocket.

PIP Coverage Isn’t the Only Option You Have

Whether you need personal injury protection coverage with health insurance or not can be a complex decision.

You have a couple of options to consider if you’re injured in an accident.

The first is available if you’re not the one at fault for the collision. The other driver’s liability coverage should cover your medical bills and other related expenses.

If those limits aren’t enough, you can have uninsured-underinsured coverage of your own to fill in the final financial gaps.

When you’re an at-fault driver, your health insurance coverage could cover some or all your medical expenses. It would depend on your limits, policy stipulations, and other variables.

It’s important to remember that PIP coverage delivers more than medical expense compensation. The disability benefits might cover some of your lost income and recuperation expenses. The death benefit pays up to a specific amount to relieve the unexpected financial burden your family faces.

If you’re wondering about the differences between PIP and MedPay, here is the comparison.

Is PIP Coverage Worth It If I Already Have Health Insurance?

If you are a motorcyclist, PIP insurance may not be available. Some states could even restrict companies from offering it, although it is an optional coverage in most no-fault states.

There are currently 12 no-fault states, but three of them are choice-based. In Kentucky, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, drivers have the right to sue for medical costs and injuries without waiting to reach a PIP threshold.

Each motorcyclist needs to read the terms and conditions of their health insurance before carrying PIP. Since riders are more likely to get injured during an accident than automotive drivers, some policies could have exclusions that won’t compensate you for treatment.

In those situations, when PIP coverage is available, it makes sense to purchase coverage as a motorcyclist if your health insurance won’t provide support.

If you have health insurance as a motorcyclist, the premiums paid for that coverage might be enough to cover your injuries without putting you at financial risk. In this circumstance, the benefit of optional PIP is that it may cover lost wages and recuperation costs.

What Factors Could Impact My PIP Claim?

Health insurance and PIP can work together. The type of accident, your injuries, the policy protections and details, and supplemental coverage are all varying factors that impact how much, if anything, you might receive when filing a claim.

Personal injury protection coverage pays for accident-related expenses up to its policy limit. If your health insurance doesn’t support dental care, funeral costs, hospital stays, medication, copay support, or out-of-network care, the extra help from PIP supports your finances effectively.

How to File for a PIP Claim

Here are the steps to follow if you’re in an accident and need to file a PIP claim.

• Report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. New York allows you to file a PIP claim within 30 days of the accident, but Florida requires you to provide notification within 14 days. Contacting the police or dialing 911 does not qualify as an insurance notification.
• Provide a statement regarding the incident. PIP claims apply whether you’re at fault for the collision or not, so try to give as many details about the situation as possible. Accurate facts are more likely to result in a paid claim than vague information about the case.
• Ask for copies of your medical records when you seek treatment. Your doctor will provide a recovery plan, medication, and information about your future care needs. The PIP insurance company will need these documents or permission to access them when evaluating the claim.
• Submit your documents on time. Insurance companies might need you to provide the requested information within a specific time to begin processing the claim. Although filling out all the questions might take some time, this final step is necessary to ensure compensation gets distributed if approved.

Working with an insurance company can feel frustrating, exhausting, and intimidating when filing a PIP claim. Not only are you trying to recover, but you’re also dealing with potential financial issues. The best insurance companies work with you to ensure your focus is on healing and recovery.