Is anyone out there an insurance expert?

[chrissyk]

I just read another thread that made me wonder about medical coverage in the event of a car accident. Of course we have health insurance, but does health insurance cover you in the event of a car accident? The poster on the other thread said that her car insurance covered most of her medical bills from her car accident, and that if she settles with the other driver's insurance company, she has to pay her medical insurance back thousands. I don't understand this. Isn't this why you have medical insurance?

Also, which portion of the car insurance premium covers for this? We carry the highest "bodilly injury" that we can here (250/500), so is that what this is for? What if the driver who hits you is uninsured? Will your medical insurance at least cover your medical bills? I hope that my post is not confusing, but I am confused about this right now!

 

[golfgal]

Not an expert but any medical bills relating to any kind of accident with an automobile would be covered under your car insurance. When DS10 was about 6 he decided to go for a bike ride by himself and also decided to ignore a stop sign and proceeded to run into this little old lady's moving car. He hit the back fender and other then some road rash was ok. The ambulance bill and the ER bill were paid by our car insurance (MN is a no-fault state).

 

[DisneyBug1995]

I think that is would be covered by your car insurance until you max out your coverage then your medical insurance would cover the rest of your bills. If you are hit by an under insured motorist your car insurance would cover it until you reach your max then it would go to your medical insurance.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

chrissy, in the state of Florida we have what is called subroagtion. If the injuries or medical condition were caused by an automobile accident then the care and treatment falls under your car insurance. After that has been exhausted it can kick over to your health insurance. Now the tricky part, if your health insurance has paid out prior to you receiving your settlement or whatever from the insurance company, your health insurance company has to be repaid.

I think everyone else has covered the other stuff.

 

[chrissyk]

chrissy, in the state of Florida we have what is called subroagtion. If the injuries or medical condition were caused by an automobile accident then the care and treatment falls under your car insurance. After that has been exhausted it can kick over to your health insurance. Now the tricky part, if your health insurance has paid out prior to you receiving your settlement or whatever from the insurance company, your health insurance company has to be repaid.

I think everyone else has covered the other stuff.

There is no way that a person with car insurance and medical insurance would be left uncovered for the medical bills though, right? Could medical insurance refuse to pay alltogether after the car insurance was maxed out? I never even thought of this until I read that other thread.

Also, which part of the car insurance premium covers this? Is it the "bodily injury" part? I always assumed that that was bodily injury to another party in another car if you caused the accident.

 

[corie161]

In MN its called Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This covers you no matter who's at fault. If like the poster who's sone was riding bike hit a car, your own PIP would pay. In MN it's required to carry a certain dollar amount. It used to be $20,000 but I can't say what it is for sure now. You can always pay for an increased dollar amount.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

There is no way that a person with car insurance and medical insurance would be left uncovered for the medical bills though, right? Could medical insurance refuse to pay alltogether after the car insurance was maxed out? I never even thought of this until I read that other thread.

Also, which part of the car insurance premium covers this? Is it the "bodily injury" part? I always assumed that that was bodily injury to another party in another car if you caused the accident.

No your medical insurance would cover it. That's why it sometimes pays out first, but then sends you a letter saying that coverage is subject to subrogation. If you get a settlement from the other party's insurance copamy, you have to pay back the insurance company whatever that amount up to the other party's car insurance coverage limit. And that would be the bodily injurt portion of their insurance.

Edited to add: whooops I was confused. If you want to cover yourself under your auto policy you need Med Pay. Usually people with health insurance don't carry it.

Sorry about the confusion. I am having an "off" morning. ARGH

 

[chrissyk]

No your medical insurance would cover it. That's why it sometimes pays out first, but then sends you a letter saying that coverage is subject to subrogation. If you get a settlement, you have to pay back the insurance company whatever that amount up to your car insurance coverage limit.

Edited to add: whooops I was confused. If you want to cover yourself under your auto policy you need Med Pay. Usually people with health insurance don't carry it.

OK, that makes sense now. Thanks!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

OK, that makes sense now. Thanks!

I clarified a couple more things in my previous post. Sorry for the confusion. LOL

 

[MELISAZACK]

Okay well that is what I do for a living here in Pa I am a PIP adjuster
lets not say for what company though....Here it is...If you are in a MVA
and you are in PA you are responsible for your own medical bills regardless of fault in the MVA- per the law we are a "no fault" state. If you carry the min.
coverage in the state which is 5k. and you exhaust your benefits you then pay out of pocket or go to Private health insurance for coverage and pay your dedc. Now if the other person was found 100% at fault for MVA they still are not responsible for you even though you used all your coverage
but if you carry the "full" tort option you can sue for BI coverabe bodily injury.
which you don't see that money till settlement is over so in the meantime you are paying the bills. Each state has different laws...another thing in Pa no matter whos car you are in at the time of the MVA if you have insurance you go to your policy for coverage not the car you are riding in.
Like I said every State works differently so you need state specific for a really good answer - hope that helps.
Oh and in PA there is no subrogration -you don't pay your med coverage back for using it if you get a settlement and it is against the law for private health to pay the bills instead of your insurance and YES they will catch up with you and want allthe money they paid out back directly from you -and NO! your insurance will not pay them for you from the medical coverage the pricing is differnet in MVA than private health we pay a lot less than medical coverage does to providers under the state guidelines.

 

[safetymom]

I just had an accident here in FL. Your car insurance pays the medical bills. I tried to give the clerk my medical card out of habit and she told me that was fraud to have them pay.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

You know, it's been a while since I worked with insurance. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is also used. Chrissy, just ignore me. I am having a bad, bad day. LOL.

Personal Injury Protection or PIP (also called no-fault coverage)Lawmakers designed PIP to help reduce the need for Floridians to sue to cover injuries resulting from automobile accidents.If you get into an automobile accident, PIP covers you up to the limits of your PIP coverage, regardless of fault. The “at fault” party is the person(s) determined to be the cause of the accident.Your PIP will cover your child, if that child is a resident of yourhousehold, and other resident members of your household. It also covers your child if he or she suffers an injury while riding a school bus. PIP pays:
• 80 percent of “medically necessary” expenses
• 60 percent of lost wages
• 100 percent of replacement services such as child care, housekeeping or yard work and
• $5,000 for death benefits.

For a higher premium, you may (in some cases)
• amend your PIP to increase medical expenses to 100 percent and lost wages to 80 percent; or
• increase your minimum limits from $10,000 to $20,000 or more. Some companies do not offer increased limits, but will offer other options.For accidents occurring in Florida, PIP covers you and members of your household who do not own a vehicle of their own, certain passengers who lack PIP, and certain licensed drivers who drive your vehicle with your permission. People riding in your vehicle who carry PIP will receive coverage under their own PIP for their injuries. Your PIP will cover a person injured in your vehicle who otherwise lacks access to PIP or does not own a vehicle. However, your PIP will not cover an injured person who owns a vehicle but lacks PIP.

In Florida, this coverage protects you while in your own or someone else’s vehicle. It also protects you as a pedestrian or bicyclist if you suffer an injury in an accident involving a motor vehicle while in the state of Florida. PIP covers only you and other members of your household for accidents occurring outside Florida but within the United States or Canada. In such cases, you must be driving or riding in your own vehicle. PIP does not cover persons other than you and members of your household.