This blog describes 5 signs of a good car insurance policy. Although we often think all car insurance policies are the same, this is simply not true. Please use this as a way to review and improve your own Michigan auto insurance policy.
1. Uninsured Motorist – this is extremely important. Under liability coverages, look and make sure you have uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage covers you if you are injured due to the negligence of an uninsured driver. In some areas of this state, at least 25% of motorists do not have any auto insurance. This means if they cause an accident, you may have no way to obtain compensation from them for your injuries. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, your own car insurance company steps in and pays for your pain and suffering.
2. Underinsured Motorist – this is also extremely important. Under liability coverages, look and make sure you have underinsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage covers you if you are injured due to an underinsured motorist. This means if another driver causes an accident, and the injuries you sustain are worth more than the liability insurance they carry, you have been injured by an underinsured driver.
Many motorists carry only the $20,000 minimum in liability coverage. To protect yourself, purchase underinsured motorist from your car insurance company. That way if you are injured by an underinsured motorist, your own car insurance company steps in and pays additional money for your pain and suffering.
3. Full Medical – this means you have what’s called an uncoordinated policy. Under Personal Injury Protection, look and see what is listed. The policy will say either “excess medical” or “full medical”. If you have excess medical, you have a coordinated policy and your car insurance will pay medical bills only after your health insurer pays. With a coordinated policy, sometimes you are limited in your treatment options.
But if your policy says full medical, you have an uncoordinated policy. This is a good thing because an uncoordinated policy provides greater access to medical care, quicker access to medical care and sometimes involves less paperwork and frustration with your health insurer, like Blue Cross/Blue Shield or HAP.
4. Broad Collision – this means you have the highest protection of collision coverage available. This is a good thing because under the Michigan no-fault law, you are responsible for insuring your own vehicle – even for physical damage caused by another motorist. If you have broad collision coverage, your own insurance company pays for the physical damage to your car, even if you were at-fault for causing the accident. Your own insurance company will also pay if your parked vehicle was hit and you don’t know who caused the damage.
5. Named Insured – in most policies, the “named insured” is the policyholder or any family member injured in an auto accident. However, many different people may live in a household or have access to the vehicle. It is important you cover as many people as possible that have regular access and are allowed to drive the vehicle. That way, if anybody is injured while operating the vehicle, the car insurance company won’t investigate the claim and deny coverage.
