Question on auto insurance
 

Our auto insurance is up for renewal and we are debating about the expense of adding uninsured motorist to the policy. We have a 10 year old vehicle and they want an additional $225 for that rider. Opinions please?

In my opinion, uninsured motorist insurance is a waste of money. You are paying to insure someone who doesn't have their own insurance. The only thing it will cover is medical costs for you and your passengers, and for "pain and suffering" if you decide to sue your own insurance company. But, if you and your passengers already have health insurance, it will basically not cover anything. Damage to your own car is already covered by your collision and comprehensive insurance, and your liability insurance covers damage that you cause. Fortunately, Florida is a state that does not require uninsured motorist insurance. Some states do. So, I save money by not buying it.

You might want to talk to an insurance specialist or lawyer, rather than getting advice from a self proclaimed internet expert.

The OP asked for opinions. Obviously, you can pay for an expert.

Florida has the highest number of uninsured motorists in the Country......I carry it.

But, do you know what it covers? Probably nothing that will benefit you.

You might want to take a look at this website before dropping uninsured motorist coverage:

What is Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage in Florida? | Augustyniak Insurance Group in Jacksonville, Florida

Pay attention to the percentage of uninsured or under-insured motorists in Florida......

Hope this helps.

PS, we have it.

I agree that you should get the facts about uninsured motorist insurance. But, sadly, many people who have moved to Florida from another state where uninsured motorist insurance was required by state law, seem to buy it automatically without really knowing what it covers. Most people have collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage on their auto policy, and also have Medicare or another health insurance plan that covers all of their medical bills. So, if they are involved in an accident with a person who has no liability insurance, what do you think the uninsured motorist coverage is going to do for you? The OP said that their cost for the insurance would be $225, which, I assume would be $450 per year. That is a substantial amount, but it will only cover things like "pain and suffering" and maybe a death benefit resulting from an injury. And, in order to collect it, you will most likely need to hire a lawyer and sue your own insurance company, who will fight against you to collect anything. So, buy the insurance if you want, but understand exactly what it will cover. When asked, most people do not know what they are paying for. Many people think that it covers damage to their car, which it does not. Obviously, your insurance agent wants you to buy it because it increases their commission.

I'll take the VillageTinker door please Monty Hall. Great Insurance costs a little and Helps Me Sleep A Lot. I think I'll stick with it as I feel responsible to cover myself when I may be injured by someone who has to choose between food or bigger, better insurance. I'm not judging them, I covering Me & Us. :pray: Hopefully I'll never ever need it.

Yes I do.....I don't care about the small accidents, I don't care about the damage to the car or minor health requirements, my health insurance will cover most of that. But it won't cover everything. I consider the premium insignificant compared to the risk. Of course I also insure our golf carts and some think that is un-necessary. Most insurances are a waste of money......until you need them.

If I were injured in a car accident, I would not want to have uninsured motorist insurance. I would want to be able to depend on my own primary health insurance, which I know will cover my medical bills, instead of being required to rely on my automobile insurance, which is a totally unknown health insurance quantity. However, if you have the uninsured motorist insurance, your Medicare and/or other health insurance company will become a secondary insurer, and you will have to follow the automobile insurance company rules for treatment and reimbursement.

This is interesting discussion, however the few times that I got involved with an insurance claim I recall a question asking if this was a accident, form the context, it appeared if i answered yes, then the "accident insurance" came involved. I am by no means an expert or for that matter extremely knowledgeable in this area, but my limited understanding is that you may end up holding the bag if you do not have uninsured or under-insured coverage and are relying on your medicare and supplemental insurance.
Just my humble opinion.

Yes, they definitely want to know if you have the uninsured motorist insurance, or "accident insurance", because they don't want to pay your claim. But, in Florida, it is optional, so, if you don't have it, then Medicare or other health insurance has to cover you. That is just another reason why I don't want accident insurance. Do you really want to depend on your auto insurance company to cover your medical treatment? But, that is what will happen if you buy uninsured motorist insurance. Medicare cannot deny your claim if you don't have accident insurance in Florida. You will not be left holding the bag. In some other states where uninsured motorist insurance is mandatory, you are violating the law to not have it, and, you could have a problem with your regular health insurance. But, not in Florida.

Better safe than sorry...…...

I know someone who was in a golf-cart accident and had a certain amount of medical coverage through their golf cart policy. It created a nightmare - as RetiredGuy said, Medicare became secondary, rather than primary.

Auto insurance is so hard to understand. For example, what does "stacked" coverage mean when you have two autos, and is it needed?

How about a passenger in your car if its hit by an uninsured motorist? If they are hurt who pays for loss of limb, missing work, $35,000 flight for life trip to hospital etc. I'm just curious not trying to pick a fight. Len

If you have uninsured motorist coverage, passengers are covered the same as the driver. But, hopefully, they also have health insurance, disability, etc. I think everyone should have health insurance, and, as far as I know, it is still required by Obamacare. But, if you want to cover your passengers, then you can buy the uninsured coverage. The OP didn't say how much coverage he/she would get for $450 per year, but I doubt that it would be enough to cover the items you mentioned. Also, if you are the driver and you cause the accident, then your liability insurance would cover the passenger. When you get into someone's car as a passenger, do you ask them if they have uninsured motorist coverage and how much? The same questions you asked would also apply to you as a passenger.

Thanks for your
 

The OP said $225 a year. That's 3 glasses of wine a month.Then I don't have to worry about the what ifs. Being self-employed my whole life, and paying over $38,000 a year in assorted insurance, Workers comp, truck ins for multiple trucks, liability, health ins for my men and my family, car ins, home owners ins etc. I think I'm getting a deal now that I'm retired. I'll skip the wine and sleep easy. Thanks for your reply. Len

I don’t think any of you understand uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Please go sit down with a licensed insurance agent, ask questions and let them explain coverage. I would also ask how many of you have long term care insurance? What would happen if you need rehabilitation, physical therapy and other things that are limited under your health insurance.

Stacked vs non stacked. Do you know how the coverage extends if you have stacked?

I am not saying you do not have option to purchase or decline coverage but please ask questions from a licensed agent before making that decision.

The OP didn't say $225 per year. I assumed the $225 was for a typical 6 month auto policy.

I'm sorry I thought this was the post everyone was referring to.

It is, but a typical auto policy is 6 months, not a year. Every auto policy I have ever purchased has been for 6 months. But, I guess we don't know, and we also don't know what amount of coverage is included.