[DimondAngels]

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?

[retiredguy123]

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.

[Rango]

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

[retiredguy123]

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

[JoMar]

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

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by JoMar

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.

[villagetinker]

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.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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'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. Hopefully I'll never ever need it.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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

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.

[retiredguy123]

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.

[villagetinker]

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.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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.

[Bill Torres]

Better safe than sorry...…...

[Carla B]

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?