[Chatbrat]

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

[ureout]

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

[ureout]

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.

[Chatbrat]

No one rides in our cars but us and our cat

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

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.

[Chatbrat]

We have a mega umbrella

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

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.

[Chatbrat]

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

[784caroline]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

[bimmertl]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

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

[Chatbrat]

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

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

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.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

May you never find out.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

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

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.

[Waverunner]

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.