HB119 SERIES
Have you been hearing about changes in Florida's Personal Injury Protection, (PIP) coverage ?
Seems strange that in the midst of all the clamor over health care reform, a law was passed and signed by the governor that actually has language in it that defines what Emergency Medical Conditions are. Here is the State of Florida's new definition of Emergency Medical Conditions: Experiencing symptoms severe enough that the absence of immediate medical treatment could result in serious jeopardy or impairment to your health. This law also provides who is approved to establish that your injuries are an Emergency Medical Condition.
DID YOU KNOW
In Florida your Personal Injury Protection, (PIP) is what pays for your injuries in a car accident and only 80% of your costs. So essentially someone hits you and you are hurt. The driver who hit you, insurance is not obliged to pay a dime of what your medical expenses are. Lets put this another way, you get hit from behind on hwy98. You are hurt and need to go the emergency room so you are transported by ambulance to the ER. Once in the ER the Dr. recommends labs and x-rays maybe even a Cat scan. You are released after a few hours and told that your injuries are not serious in nature. Great news right. well for your health it is but for your pocket book it is not. Under Florida PIP reform you are only covered for $2,500. because your injuries are not consider a Medical Emergency.
The average Emergency room visit cost $1,682. 00, as stated by the American Hospital Association.
The average cost of an Ambulance ride is $400 to $1,200 or more plus mileage.
You can all do the math and see that if you are not considered a Medical Emergency you are going to be responsible for paying the 20% and 100% of amounts over $2,500.
We will address more of the new reform to PIP in an ongoing series HB 119 for now this link is will give you most of the information on HB 119 http://www.insuringflorida.org/assets/docs/pdf/PIPBill050412.pdf
Tags: auto safety, bad faith, car accident pensacola, health insurance, healthcare reform, insurance claims, Insurance Law, insurance lawyers, Keith Weidner, Pensacola, Personal Injury
