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Senate Boss Says Florida PIP Repeal Needs To Include Medical Coverage
December 9, 2017
The Senate will consider the merits of repealing Florida’s long-standing requirement for drivers to carry personal-injury protection insurance, but Senate President Joe Negron said it’s important to ensure that any replacement coverage still provides Florida drivers access to medical coverage and funeral benefits.
“I think med pay (medical payments coverage) is an important component that we need to retain in the system,” Negron said Friday in an interview with The News Service of Florida. “It makes sure that an emergency room is compensated when someone appears for care after a motor vehicle accident.”
Moreover, Negron, R-Stuart, said it’s important to maintain a burial benefit.
“I think if a terrible, unspeakable tragedy of someone getting killed in an automobile accident, and the family is having to adjust with that permanent alteration of their reality, to have a modest payment to make sure they can afford a funeral and a burial is not too much to ask. I will not support jettisoning that.”
The Legislature in 1972 passed a requirement that drivers carry $10,000 in personal-injury protection insurance in hopes of limiting the number of lawsuits stemming from traffic accidents. It provides benefits to the policyholder, regardless of who is at fault in an accident.
For health benefits, so-called PIP covers 80 percent of reasonable medical expenses. The benefit is reduced to $2,500 if a treating medical provider determines an emergency medical condition did not exist. PIP also provides policyholders 60 percent of their loss of income following accidents.
In the case of a death, PIP provides the policyholder a $5,000 death benefit.
According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida is one of 10 states to require drivers to carry PIP. Senate Banking and Insurance Chairwoman Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said one of the first bills her committee will consider when it meets in early January is a PIP repeal (SB 150), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa. A House version (HB 19), filed by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, is ready to go to the House floor after the 2018 session starts Jan. 9.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
2 Responses to “Senate Boss Says Florida PIP Repeal Needs To Include Medical Coverage”
Why is it that every year the same. Senator and now House lawyer, push for repeal of Auto insurance PIP.
We need to be sure someone other than taxpayer pays medical not Medicaid. Liability State benefits the lawyers. Which take min of 1/3 of Gross settlement, min is 10k now, moving up to 20k doesn’t benefit the injured, when lawyers take 1/3 of the medical as well, STOP with the greed Rep. Grail, a lawyer, and let’s look at what benefits Tom Lee, any insurance lobbyists around, or ER lobbyists
If Insurers were not making $$ why is their Stock higher than ever. Why sell insurance in Florida. If they lose$. Vote No to whole bill…..
Who are these people trying to fool? This law forces drivers to have coverage that most responsible drivers already have–healthcare and life insurance or burial policy. This is simply another way insurance companies force responsible people to pay for services they don’t need. If drivers choose not to have medical coverage or a burial policy, let them deal with the consequences.
“I think med pay (medical payments coverage) is an important component that we need to retain in the system,” Negron said Friday in an interview with The News Service of Florida. “It makes sure that an emergency room is compensated when someone appears for care after a motor vehicle accident.” Ok, but more importantly, this is a way for insurance policies to collect higher premiums at the consumer’s expense.
“…to have a modest payment to make sure they can afford a funeral and a burial is not too much to ask. I will not support jettisoning that.” Not too much to ask of whom? I already have life insurance, why should I have to pay for more just to get insurance on my car?