Auto Insurance
 

We insure with Geico--since we have great health insurance- we decided to drop uninsured motorist insurance- it saves us close to $500/yr

Geico advised us to do it

what about if you have non family passengers in your car?? are you liable for them?

continuation on my lasy post... since I believe you live in TV even family members would probably no longer be covered on your medical ins.

No one rides in our cars but us and our cat

It maybe a good idea to rethink that strategy or explain something you learned that still covers you if some yahoo hits you. Is that coverage made up by a umbrella policy? There has to be some kind of angle of dropping such important insurance.

We have a mega umbrella

I agree. I also don't pay for uninsured motorist insurance. There is a misconception that it covers your liability. Not true. That is what your liability insurance is for, and you should have a high level of liability coverage.

Uninsured or underinsured covers bodily injury only---not liability

I really think you are wrong on this..The following explaination is from Wikipedia. WE ave personally used UI/UI for a liability claim in Virginia and with all the uninsured motorists driving here in Florida I think you are taking an uneed risk to save a couple bucks.

Uninsured motorist clause
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


An uninsured motorist clause is a provision commonly found in United States automobile insurance policies that provides for a driver to receive damages for any injury he or she receives from an uninsured, negligent driver. The owner of the policy pays a premium to the insurance company to include this clause. Although not exclusive, this coverage is typically added to an automobile insurance policy. In the event of a qualifying accident, the insurance company pays the difference between what the uninsured driver can pay and what the injured driver would be entitled to as if the uninsured motorist had proper insurance.[1]
It is mandatory for the insurance carrier to provide such coverage in some states, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
Contents [hide]
1 Defining an uninsured motorist for the purpose of an uninsured motorist clause
2 Bodily Injury Coverage
2.1 Uninsured Motorist
2.2 Underinsured Motorist
3 Litigating an uninsured motorist claim
4 References
Defining an uninsured motorist for the purpose of an uninsured motorist clause[edit]
There are three types of uninsured motorists defined under the uninsured motorist clause:
Individuals who do not have liability coverage for the vehicle he or she is operating. In most states, it is a crime to be uninsured in this manner.
When an individual flees the scene of an accident without leaving sufficient information to identify him or herself, the individual is considered uninsured for the purposes of an uninsured motorist provision. Note, however, that a positive ID of the license plates in a hit and run accident will often be considered by insurance companies sufficient information to identify the negligent Hit and run driver. Such identification will often lead to the denial of an uninsured motorist claim, as insurance companies will often litigate the claim, bringing in the registered owner of the vehicle with matching plates, even when that person denies involvement in the accident. Some states don't allow uninsured motorist property damage to be used in hit-and-run collisions.[2] In these states, your collision coverage may be able to help pay for your car repairs.
California
Colorado
Illinois
Louisiana
Ohio
A stolen vehicle is uninsured from the time it has been stolen. A person who has been injured by a stolen vehicle may qualify for an uninsured claim.
A few states require physical contact for uninsured claims. If contact is required, it can be any kind of contact, such as that between two cars, but can also consist of a vehicle contacting the leg of a motorcyclist or a motorcycle tire.
Bodily Injury Coverage[edit]
Uninsured Motorist[edit]
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage covers a victim's medical expenses, lost wages, and other injury related expenses in an instance where the other driver is not insured. This coverage applies only if the other party is found to be at fault for the incident. Depending on the state, the insurance company may or may not require the victim to identify the other vehicle/driver. Many states will cover a hit and run incident.
Underinsured Motorist[edit]
Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage protects a driver by financially compensating him for his injury in the event that he is injured in an accident by someone else who negligently caused his injuries when the driver or owner has liability coverage for his or her vehicle that is less than the amount of the victim's liability coverage. Underinsured coverage may also be referred to as an underinsured motorist clause or endorsement or SUM, which is an abbreviation for Supplementary Underinsured Motorist coverage.
Litigating an uninsured motorist claim[edit]
Most states require a victim to sue the uninsured motorist (or a fictitious John Doe hit and run driver when litigating the second category of uninsured motorist claim) for his injuries in order to prevail on a breach of contract action against the insurance carrier. Some states, such as Virginia, require that the victim actually obtain a judgment against the uninsured motorist (while serving the uninsured motorist carrier in the lawsuit so that the carrier can defend the suit) and then demand payment from the uninsured motorist carrier prior to suing the carrier for any breach of an uninsured motorist provision. Normally there is no need to sue the carrier in such states as Virginia unless there is a dispute as to coverage. Liability is rarely an issue in cases against John Doe defendants and in any regard, must be litigated in the first suit against the John Doe, if at all. The insurance company will ordinarily pay the judgment, up to the policy limits, once a court determines that an uninsured motorist was at fault. Some states' laws also allow additional insurance coverage to the insured policyholder through policy stacking provisions, whereby a claim may be made against multiple uninsured motorist policies.
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Uninsured moterist clause". Legal Dictionary. Retrieved 5/9/2013. Check date values in: |access-date= (help); External link in |website= (help)
Jump up ^ "hit-and-run claims". esurance. Retrieved 22 August 20

Hard to believe Geico recommended dropping UM (uninsured motorist) insurance.

Uninsured and underinsured (UIM) provides you with coverage for damages caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. It covers not only medical expenses, but also pain and suffering etc.
UM and UIM are usually written together so if you have dropped UM have you also dropped underinsured coverage?

Consider a recent golf cart accident in the Villages. Woman passenger falls out of golf cart in early AM. Ends up in hospital where she dies a few days later. She was a passenger and driver at fault.

Aside from her medical bills, she is entitled to recover for her pain and suffering prior to her death. Upon her death, her estate and heirs are entitled to make a claim for her wrongful death. The claim for those two elements are worth in the 100's of thousands.

So if the golf cart has no insurance, she can collect from her UM coverage. If he las limited coverage, say 50K per person, than UIM coverage applies since the claim is worth more than the available limits of the at fault driver.

Or just assume you are a avid golfer. You sustain a severe shoulder injury in an accident where the other driver is at fault, and you can never golf again. Your medical bills are paid by your "great" health insurance, but if you are 62 years old and looked forward to another 15 years of golf, what's that worth? UM/UIM pays your for that disability.

You need UM and UIM coverage to protect yourself and family members. Dropping it is a big mistake

We don't need $$ for pain and suffering--we're extremely comfortable and no lawyer will make a red cent if some uninsured motorist hits me or my wife

For my two cents worth
 

First of all let me admit that I am prejudiced against GEICO.
Many years ago, I was on a legal parking lot, my car was properly parked and the engine was off. This was pre-smart phones. I happened to have a camer in the car and took pictures. I had the name address and phone number for a witness-a repair guy who was up on a ladder and say the whole thing. He was laughing at what had happened.
My policy included a rental car. I had a $500 deductible.
GEICO never contacted my witness. They lost my pictures so I had to print another set and AGAIN sent them return receipt. It took them almost two years to recover my deductible. As to the rental car I still remember the line I was given we will see what we can allow. After it was all over GEICO reminder I was totally innocent just in the wrong place with a ...........

All the companies are great till you have a claim. Other than for advertising and perhaps asking other villagers complete with perhaps like me with their own prejudice and perhaps bad experience the insurance companies are rated for customer satisfaction.

As to your report that your GEICO agent told you to drop UNINSURED COVERAGE and you saved almost $500. There is clearly a lot of missing information. Perhaps, you have a very expensive car or perhaps your driving record is not very good. You might check with other companies. You might consider raising your deductibles-self insuring part of any potential loss.

Way shortened family story. My niece, sister's daughter, was rear ended by a young ILLEGAL ALIEN driving with no license and no insurance. My niece's car was totaled as it rolled over. More important her are was crushed by the car. It was a question if she was going to loose the arm.
She still has it but it is mostly useless. My sister far more liberal than I, is now against illegal aliens. According to my sister. The illegals were not deported. The girls father bought her another car. The insurance company never went after them for the damages. AND SINCE THEY HAD NO INSURANCE AND NO SHOWING ASSETS NO ATTORNEY WOULD GO AFTER THEM ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS.

IMPORTANT FOR ALL-you need to regularly shop your insurance. You/we think if your are a loyal long time customer you get a better rate. Sadly that is not so.
The company sees you are a long term customer, they know you are not shopping so they feel free to raise what YOU pay.

Read my post following your #12
 

May you never find out.

You are correct, Chatbrat. Uninsured motorist insurance is a waste of money. You are paying to cover someone else's liability. As long as you have medical insurance and don't want to sue somebody for pain and suffering, why waste the money? In my opinion, it is a ripoff, and I have never paid for it unless required by state law. It is not required in Florida.

Again, it is hard to believe that a GEICO representative would recommend this for any reason other than premium savings. Uninsured Motorists/Underinsured Motorists coverage is for YOU. To pay YOU in case the at fault party is uninsured or under insured. Florida doesn't even require automobile owners to carry any Bodily Injury liability. Further, look at the statistics of how many, what percentage, of drivers are driving on the roads of Florida with no insurance. It is one of the reasons that this coverage can be more expensive in FL.

When you check into the hospital, they will ask two important questions. One related to if your injury is work related (i.e. covered by workers' compensation) and second if your injury is related to an automobile accident (i.e. covered by automobile insurance). If the answer is "Yes" to either, you could be triggering the "Other Insurance" clause of a policy. Meaning if there is other insurance to pay for the injury OR should have been other insurance to pay for the injury, that, in this case, your health insurance policy might not be the first to respond...and may not pay or may wait to pay until all other insurance policies that are applicable have been (investigated) and exhausted. When you drop the UI/UIM coverage, you sign a rejection of coverage. Does that/can that impact your health insurance?

Please don't take the OP advice until you have all the answers to these questions. My opinion is buy it and buy as much of it as you can. It is coverage to protect YOU!

P.S. Golf Cart insurance coverage is not standard. Many policies do not cover UI/UIM coverage whatsoever. Even if you cover your cart under your auto policy. You need to check your policy.

P.P.S. Many Umbrella Liability policies don't cover over Uninsured Motorists / Underinsured Motorists Coverage. They can though. If they do, they will require that you carry the high underlying limits threshold. If it is offered as an option under an Umbrella Liability policy, the additional premium is usually small.

I have never heard of a health insurance policy that would not cover injuries related to an automobile accident. The only thing an uninsured motorist claim will cover is for a passenger who does not have health insurance, or if you want to try to get money for pain and suffering. If you don't care about these things, then you don't need uninsured motorist insurance.

We don't have any heirs- when we pass everything goes to charity-not interested in building our estate--just protecting it

GEICO is a very low rated insurance company. Thanks to owner, Warren Buffet. Your paying for all the advertising. Screw you if they have to payout, just a scam. Good luck if you place a claim.

Just in case you change your my last name is Castellano.

We're leaving everything to Homes For Heroes, Fischer House, Salvation Army , Seeing eye Dogs, and Service Dog Training

How was your steak ?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a591c1fd68.jpg


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I am not inferring that your health insurance policy will not pay for coverage from an automobile injury, however, in the event of an auto accident injury, your health insurance is never primary insurance, but secondary insurance.

Read your own health insurance policy. Especially the clauses that are titled Coordination of Benefits (other insurance) and the Subrogation and Right of Reimbursement.

Coordination of Benefits is a limitation of coverage and/or benefits to be provided. It is designed to avoid duplication of payment for Covered Services and/or supplies.

An excerpt from my policy:

The following rules shall be used to establish the order in which benefits under the respective plans will be determined:
1. This plan always pays secondary to any medical payment, personal injury protection (PIP) coverage or no-fault coverage under any automobile policy available to you.

Subrogation and Right of Reimbursement states that if benefits are paid under the Contract for expenses incurred due to Third Party Injuries, then the insurer retains the right to repayment of the full cost of all benefits provided under the Contract on your behalf that are associated with the Third Party Injuries.

An excerpt from my policy:
We may recover the full cost of all benefits paid by us under this Contract without regard to any claim of fault on your part, whether by comparative negligence or otherwise. In the event you or your representative fails to cooperate with us, you shall be responsible for all benefits provided by us under this Contract in addition to costs and attorney’s fees incurred by us in obtaining repayment.

The bottom line is that your health insurance carrier does not want to be the first in line to pay for your auto accident injuries. You will have to do a lot of "cooperating" with them to help them get reimbursed by any at-fault third party. If you don't, they will stop paying and come back to you for 100% of the benefits they have paid under the health insurance plus their legal fees.

Having UM/UIM coverage under your automobile insurance transfers your rights and responsibility to go after the at-fault third party to your auto insurance carrier. UM/UIM covers all passengers in the car, including the driver.

It still remains a personal choice. My choice is to carry high UM/UIM limits under my auto policy. Make yours an informed choice.

We switched to Lobster. :mmmm: No Mo Steak, we never get to eat it. :mmmm:

Very close to a violation.

I totally agree that you should make an informed decision. But, most people are paying for uninsured motorist insurance because they have no idea what it does and doesn't cover. Those people are not making an informed decision. And, their insurance agent doesn't want them to know the facts.

Regarding health insurance, I don't think an insurance company is going to spend a lot of time trying to collect money from an uninsured motorist. You can't get blood from a turnip.

I get the idea that Medicare will deny paying for immediate medical treatment after an accident until the auto or golf car insurance has paid. So how do you get authorization from the auto/golf cart insurance? I've wondered why the facility is so interested in where the injury occurred., was it at Wal-Mart, in an accident, or at home? If at home, or in some 3rd World Country, no problem.

So anyone have insurance background? I do but it's not in Florida. So is Florida an at fault state or a no fault state. Check your health insurance policy, some do not cover auto accidents at all.

At this time we have auto insurance from a no fault state, our current health insurance does not pay for any auto related accidents. When speaking to a bonded and licensed insurance agent it is they're bound duty to explain your policy in full. They have knowledge of health insurance companies, who pays for auto and who doesn't. When starting a new policy the top 5 questions they ask is who is your health insurance carrier. As soon as it it plugged into the computer they know what coverage you have.

A related question. Let's say for 6 months you hardly drive your car and the other six months you drive a lot, up north, everywhere. How often can you reduce your coverages and then raise them again in one year?

Depends on if you have a 6 month policy, or one year policy. You can reduce anything you want, if you store a car not driven, it's usually 30 days before reinstating. Unless you stop driving altogether I would not change my policy. 5 miles or 500 miles an accident can happen anywhere.

I would call them and see if they have a problem. These policies usually specify levels of underlying insurance.

We put our northern cars in storage mode when we come down here,
I believe we only pay comprehensive in that mode.
Then Florida car is taken out of storage mode, and has full coverage
Storage mode about 7 months up north, and
about 5 months here! Full coverage is just the reverse!

In Florida no fault is primary but only 10,000 per person coverage. One of the coverages under UM is nursing and rehab coverage. Health insurance is very limited for this coverage. I had a friend who was in rehab a year and at fault driver had no insurance. She collected 100,000 under her UM for the year in rehab and physical therapy.

An umbrella coverage won't cover you for uninsured motorist if you don't cover at least the basic coverage for it. The only reason they would tell you to stop it is if you couldn't afford insurance & they would tell you it's optional. No one should ever drop uninsured motorist coverage.