Does My Health Insurance Cover Auto Accidents in Michigan?

Author

Reads 391

Insurance Agent Sitting Next to Smiling Clients
Credit: pexels.com, Insurance Agent Sitting Next to Smiling Clients

If you're involved in an auto accident in Michigan, you might be wondering if your health insurance will cover the costs. In Michigan, health insurance policies are required to cover emergency medical treatment for auto accident injuries, regardless of fault.

Michigan law requires drivers to have no-fault insurance, which covers medical expenses and lost wages for accident-related injuries. This means you can get the medical attention you need without worrying about the financial burden.

In Michigan, health insurance companies are not allowed to deny coverage for emergency medical treatment due to the accident being the fault of another driver. This is because the state's no-fault law prioritizes getting you the medical help you need quickly.

Michigan Auto Accident Insurance

Michigan is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means you'll need to use your own insurance policy to cover expenses after a wreck. This includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which cover injury-related costs regardless of who or what caused the crash.

Person Holding Home Insurance Form
Credit: pexels.com, Person Holding Home Insurance Form

Michigan PIP benefits can cover a wide range of expenses, including medical costs, lost wages, replacement services, attendant care, and funeral or burial expenses. Medical costs can include things like ambulance rides, surgeries, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, doctor’s visits, and prescription medications.

In Michigan, you can coordinate your medical coverage with your auto insurance policy to set up coverage so that your health insurance is the primary payer after a vehicle accident. This means your health insurance covers your medical losses first.

If your health insurance has a different cap, coordinating your health insurance and car insurance can give you more room to seek compensation for other losses under your PIP plan. Your health insurance can be critical in covering injury expenses after a car crash, especially if bills exceed PIP medical benefits coverage.

Here's a breakdown of what Michigan PIP benefits can cover:

  • Medical costs, such as ambulance rides, surgeries, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, doctor’s visits, and prescription medications
  • Lost wages, if you’re unable to return to work, including up to 85 percent of your usual salary, with a monthly maximum amount adjusted by state law every year
  • Replacement services, if you need someone to help with day-to-day tasks such as child care, household chores, shopping, and non-medical transportation
  • Attendant care, for people who need help with health needs such as showering, dressing, feeding, supervision, rehabilitation, and medical transportation
  • Funeral or burial expenses, in the event of death

Paying for Medical Bills

If your medical bills exceed the limits of your PIP insurance policy, you're not out of options.

Credit: youtube.com, Should I Use My Auto Or Health Insurance For Medical Bills After A Crash? – CA Lawyer Frank Nunes

You can seek excess medical bills from the at-fault driver by filing a third-party lawsuit with the help of an experienced attorney.

Your lawyer will explore how well the responsible driver was insured at the time of the crash, and if they were uninsured or underinsured, you could turn to your own insurer for reimbursement of leftover medical costs.

Purchasing optional uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can adequately protect you and your family from losses caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

If none of these options apply, you may be stuck for paying your excess medical expenses.

Here are the medical coverage levels available in Michigan, which can impact your monthly car insurance payments:

If you're covered by Medicare Part A or B and other members of your household have their own coverage, you're eligible to opt-out of PIP coverage altogether.

Car Insurance and No-Fault

In Michigan, auto insurance law allows you to coordinate your health insurance with your auto insurance policy, making health insurance the primary payer after a vehicle accident.

A Car Crushed by a Broken Tree
Credit: pexels.com, A Car Crushed by a Broken Tree

This can be beneficial because health insurance has a different cap, giving you more room to seek compensation for other losses under your PIP plan.

Michigan is a no-fault auto insurance state, meaning drivers must use their own insurance policies to cover expenses after a wreck.

PIP benefits cover a wide range of expenses, including medical costs, lost wages, replacement services, attendant care, and funeral or burial expenses.

Here are the specific expenses covered by PIP benefits:

  • Medical costs, such as ambulance rides, surgeries, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, doctor’s visits, and prescription medications
  • Lost wages, if you’re unable to return to work, including up to 85 percent of your usual salary, with a monthly maximum amount adjusted by state law every year
  • Replacement services, if you need someone to help with day-to-day tasks such as child care, household chores, shopping, and non-medical transportation
  • Attendant care, for people who need help with health needs such as showering, dressing, feeding, supervision, rehabilitation, and medical transportation
  • Funeral or burial expenses, in the event of death

PIP will pay for all reasonable medical expenses with no maximum, but the law can be somewhat finicky in determining what is "reasonable".

Health Insurance and Injuries

In most situations, you can use your health insurance to cover expenses for injuries from an auto accident. However, some policies exclude car accident injuries from coverage, so it's essential to check your policy to see if that applies to you.

Health insurance can play a significant role in covering the medical care you need after suffering car accident injuries, especially if your bills exceed personal injury protection (PIP) medical benefits coverage.

Credit: youtube.com, Does Health Insurance Cover Auto Accident Injuries? - InsuranceGuide360.com

Some health insurance policies have specific auto accident exclusions that eliminate coverage for medical care after a car crash. This means you may not be able to use your health insurance to cover injuries from an auto accident if your policy has this exclusion.

You can coordinate your health insurance with your auto insurance policy, which can be beneficial in seeking compensation for other losses under your PIP plan.

Here are some levels of no-fault PIP medical benefits coverage available:

Keep in mind that failing to select a new policy will result in a plan with unlimited PIP benefits by default.

Coordinating Insurance After an Accident

In Michigan, you can coordinate your medical coverage with your auto insurance policy. This process lets you set up coverage so that your health insurance is the primary payer after a vehicle accident.

Your health insurance has a different cap, giving you more room to seek compensation for other losses under your PIP plan. This can be beneficial in situations where bills exceed personal injury protection (PIP) medical benefits coverage.

You can coordinate your health insurance and car insurance with your insurance agent. This is especially important if you're unsure about how your policies work together.

Understanding PIP Coverage

Credit: youtube.com, Michigan Personal Injury Protection Guide, 2024

In Michigan, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is a must-have for all drivers. It's a no-fault insurance policy that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs after a car accident.

You have the option to choose from different levels of PIP medical benefits coverage, ranging from $50,000 to unlimited. If you're enrolled in Medicaid, you may be able to purchase a less expensive policy with up to $50,000 in coverage.

Here are the different levels of PIP medical benefits coverage available:

If you fail to select a new policy, your plan will include unlimited PIP benefits by default.

Angelo Douglas

Lead Writer

Angelo Douglas is a seasoned writer with a passion for creating informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex topics, Angelo has established himself as a trusted voice in the world of finance. Angelo's writing portfolio spans a range of topics, including mutual funds and mutual fund costs and fees.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.