Important Insurance information for Motorcyclists

[rjh200]

AMA Rapid Response Center


ACTION ALERT - WRITE NOW - HOUSE INTRODUCES HEALTH INSURANCE BILL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS!
TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE YOU WANT THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE!


U.S. Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX-26) and U.S. Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI-1) recently introduced H.R. 1076, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act. Identical legislation obtained 177 bipartisan cosponsors and passed the full Senate in the 108th Congress.

H.R. 1076 aims at ending health care discrimination for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities-activities like motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, and all-terrain vehicle riding.

This legislation addresses a loophole caused by a Department of Health and Human Services' rule making it possible for health care benefits to be denied to those who are injured while participating in these activities.

典he development of this bill could not have been possible without bipartisan congressional support and the hard work of the American Motorcyclist Association, stated Congressman Burgess. 的 look forward to working alongside the AMA to get this legislation passed into law.''

Congressman Stupak noted, 典his important legislation would prevent health insurance discrimination against citizens who take part in legal, recreational activities such as motorcycle riding and snowmobiling. I look forward to continuing to work with the American Motorcyclist Association and other organizations on this issue."

On August 21, 1996 an important opportunity arose when President Clinton signed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), prohibiting employers from denying health care coverage based on a worker痴 pre-existing medical conditions or participation in legal activities, such as motorcycling.

In 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services released the final rules that would govern the HIPAA law. The rules recognize that employers cannot refuse health care coverage to an employee on the basis of their participation in a recognized legal activity. However, the benefits can be denied for injuries sustained in connection with those activities. Therefore, you were guaranteed the right to health care coverage but not guaranteed any benefits in return for your monthly payments.

The AMA is urging all motorcyclists to notify their Representatives and tell them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 1076, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act."

[jimaug87]

That's rediculouse. Has anybody here been denied medical service because they were injured riding a 'dangerouse' motorcycle?

[benVFR]

This is a repost urban legend that gets reposted every year or two.

Call your insurance company/companies and get the details on *your* policies.

[rjh200]

This is a repost urban legend that gets reposted every year or two.

Call your insurance company/companies and get the details on *your* policies.

H.R. 1076: HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act (GovTrack.us)

[benVFR]

If this is new it's the same guys bringing the bill back up over and over again.

Call your reps & your insurance companies.

I did last time. Your policy can write you out of coverage for motorcycling, etc.. if it did you have the wrong policy.

But the law fails over and over because it's perfectly reasonable for someone to cut a particular activity out of a policy as long as it's mentioned in the policy.

If you have health insurance through your employer call to find out if it will cover health care costs from a motorcycle accident. If it doesn't you need to add "Medical Pay" to your motorcycle policy, which sucks as it's expensive.

edit: Actually in the govtrack site you can indeed see how many times this has been introduced without passing.

[Kham]

where's the fuckin own smiley? haha...

[Crash Dummy Denno]

hey

here's your smiley

[Kham]

Denise. you're watching me.

[benVFR]

It's a nice idea but I'll assume it doesn't pass because it would cause the insurance companies to jack rates like crazy?

Kind of a question of how much government involvement do you want too. If insurance is forced to pay for all the accidents they might start lobbying hard for speed limiters, power caps, etc.. too.

[rjh200]

If this is new it's the same guys bringing the bill back up over and over again.

Call your reps & your insurance companies.

I did last time. Your policy can write you out of coverage for motorcycling, etc.. if it did you have the wrong policy.

But the law fails over and over because it's perfectly reasonable for someone to cut a particular activity out of a policy as long as it's mentioned in the policy.

If you have health insurance through your employer call to find out if it will cover health care costs from a motorcycle accident. If it doesn't you need to add "Medical Pay" to your motorcycle policy, which sucks as it's expensive.

edit: Actually in the govtrack site you can indeed see how many times this has been introduced without passing.

I noticed how many times it had been brought up but I was simply using one of the many links available to show that it was in fact true. My current policies have no exceptions so on that front I am not worried but it does not hurt to show some support for people looking out for the interest of motorcyclists. It should not matter if you think it is going to pass or not.

[snowborder]

actually this is True and is up to each employers policy... some employers can write this in to get better rates. So actually it should matter because your current employer could just decide to do this as way to cut health insurance costs to both the company and to you.

[Josephd14]

I had my HMO refuse to pay once, they said that I had ins on my motorcycle and they should pay, A health ins. company will always look for someone else to pay if there is someone, Broke your foot at your buddies house? His home owners can pay it then.. Ins. companies are always looking for someone else to pay, you just have to fight them on it..

[RyanNicholson]

this kind a scares me...i have my own policy that i pay monthly for (joys of working freelance) and i got it specifically for racing haha

[mycirus]

In the Millitary if you are not wearing protective gear they dont pay your bills. I had an accident in 2002 and I could not collect the Personal Injury Protection on my motorcycle. They make you buy pip but you can not collect on it. I was able to collect on it from my car policy though. Its a strange bunch of rules.

Bruce

[Crash Dummy Denno]

this kind a scares me...i have my own policy that i pay monthly for (joys of working freelance) and i got it specifically for racing haha

im in the same ship - mind PMing me some insurance info - might be different in MASS though