22 June 2020
ESCANABA– After July 1, Michigan {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} will {change|alter} and {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} who {renew|restore} their policy or {start|begin} {a new|a brand-new} one will {reap|enjoy|gain} the {monetary|financial} {benefits|advantages}.
Michigan {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} will {be able to|have the ability to} {decide|choose} the level of medical {coverage|protection}– {Personal Injury|Injury|Accident} {Protection|Security|Defense} (PIP)– on their next policy. PIP pays {allowable|permitted|allowed} {expenses|costs|expenditures} to the {insured|guaranteed} for {medical care|healthcare|treatment}, {recovery|healing}, {rehabilitation|rehab}, and some {funeral|funeral service} {expenses|costs|expenditures} after {an auto|a car|an automobile|a vehicle} {accident|mishap}.
On {May|Might} 30, 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} no-fault legislation to {lower|reduce|decrease} {costs|expenses} for Michigan {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists}. The {bill|expense|costs} reformed Michigan’s {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} system by {guaranteeing|ensuring} lower rates, {allowing|enabling|permitting} {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} to {choose|select|pick} their own PIP, {banning|prohibiting} {insurance companies|insurance provider|insurer} from {using|utilizing} non-driving {factors|elements|aspects} to set rates– {ZIP code|POSTAL CODE}, {credit score|credit rating|credit history|credit report}, gender, marital status, {occupation|profession}, education level, and owning {a home|a house}– and setting {a fee|a charge|a cost} schedule for medical {establishments|facilities} to {prevent|avoid} overcharging {a driver|a chauffeur|a motorist} for auto-related injuries.
Klein {Agency|Company|Firm} {Insurance|Insurance Coverage} {Agent|Representative} Theresa Klein {said|stated} the {new|brand-new} law will benefit {customers|clients|consumers}, {but|however} {advises|recommends|encourages} they {need|require} to {check|inspect|examine} their {health insurance|medical insurance} or medical supplement {before|prior to} {deciding on|choosing|selecting|picking} their level of PIP.
“It is still left {up to the individual|optional} to {make sure|ensure|make certain} they are covered {in the case of|when it comes to} {an accident|a mishap},” {said|stated} Klein. “They {need|require} to {check with|consult|talk to|contact} their {health insurance|medical insurance} or medical supplement {before|prior to} they make their {decision|choice}. {We know|We understand} that Medicare does pay {in the event|in case} of {an accident|a mishap} {but|however} Medicare has {limits|limitations} on some {coverages|protections}.”
Klein {said|stated} there are {two|2} things every {insured|guaranteed} {person|individual} {should|ought to|must|needs to} {know|understand} {before|prior to} they {decide|choose}– if their {health insurance|medical insurance} covers them {in the event|in case} of {a car|a vehicle|an automobile|a cars and truck} {accident|mishap}, and their deductible is $6,000 or less.
“{Customers|Clients|Consumers} {should|ought to|must|need to} call their {plan|strategy} and {verify|confirm|validate} those {two|2} things {before|prior to} they {decide|choose} what they {want to|wish to} do,” she {said|stated}.
{Currently|Presently} PIP {coverage|protection} {accounts for|represent} {almost|practically|nearly} half of {an insurance|an insurance coverage} premium. {Starting|Beginning} in July, PIP premiums will be {reduced|decreased|minimized|lowered} under the {new|brand-new} Michigan law. The {average|typical} {reduction|decrease} per {vehicle|car|automobile|lorry} in premiums {depends on|depends upon} the {amount|quantity} of PIP {coverage|protection} {chosen|selected|picked} by the insured {driver|chauffeur|motorist}. There are {six|6} {coverage|protection} levels {available|offered|readily available}, according to the {website|site} www.Michigan.gov/autoinsurance– {Unlimited|Limitless|Unrestricted|Endless} (16.5% {reduction|decrease}), {up to|as much as|approximately} $500,000 (36.3% {reduction|decrease}), $250,000 with PIP medical {exclusions|exemptions} (41.9% {reduction|decrease}), {up to|as much as|approximately} $50,000 (54.3% {reduction|decrease}), and a PIP medical opt-out. {If {an insured|a guaranteed} does {not choose|pass by} a PIP {coverage|protection}, the {Unlimited|Limitless|Unrestricted|Endless} PIP medical {option|choice|alternative} will be {selected|chosen|picked} by default.|The {Unlimited|Limitless|Unrestricted|Endless} PIP medical {option|choice|alternative} will be {selected|chosen|picked} by default if {an insured|a guaranteed} does not {choose|select|pick} a PIP {coverage|protection}.} Michigan is the only state offering {unlimited|limitless|unrestricted|endless} PIP {coverage|protection}.
{Agents|Representatives} {have|have actually} trained {since|because|considering that|given that} March to be {{ready|prepared|all set} and able|able and {ready|prepared|all set}} to {help|assist} {clients|customers} make {the best|the very best} {personal|individual} {decision|choice}. Due to COVID-19 {agents|representatives} were {unable|not able} to train face to {face|deal with}, and {had to|needed to} {use|utilize} online classes.
Bergman {Insurance|Insurance Coverage} {Agency|Company|Firm} {Licensed|Certified|Accredited} {Agent|Representative} Tiffany St. Louis {said|stated} training for the {new|brand-new} law hasn’t been smooth.
“We are still {learning about|finding out about|discovering|learning more about} the ins and outs of the {new|brand-new} law. We were {suppose|expect} to have {face-to-face|in person} training, {but|however} the in-person training was canceled {because|since|due to the fact that} of COVID-19,” {said|stated} St. Louis. “There are training modules online, {but|however} it’s not the {same|exact same|very same}.”
Klein {said|stated} she is {glad|happy|pleased|delighted|thankful|grateful} to open their doors after weeks of working from {a computer|a computer system} and phone. Signatures from {customers|clients|consumers} would get a bit {difficult|challenging|tough|hard} and {explaining|discussing|describing} {insurance|insurance coverage} {information|info|details} is {much easier|a lot easier} {in person|personally|face to face}. Klein {said|stated} she {has|has actually} {noticed|discovered|observed|seen} some {customers|clients|consumers} are getting PIP and {bodily|physical} injury {insurance|insurance coverage} {confused|puzzled}.
“{People|Individuals} do {mix up|blend} {bodily|physical} injury and {personal injury|injury|accident}. {{Bodily|Physical} injury {insurance|insurance coverage} is if you {hurt|harm|injure} {somebody|someone} else.|If you {hurt|harm|injure} {somebody|someone} else, {bodily|physical} injury {insurance|insurance coverage} is.} We {encourage|motivate} them to keep high {limits|limitations} on that, if {someone else|another person|somebody else} would sue you,” {said|stated} Klein. “According to Michigan law, {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} {have to|need to} {insure|guarantee} $50,000 per {person|individual}.”
The Michigan Department of {Insurance|Insurance Coverage} and Financial {Services|Solutions|Providers} (DIFS) will {verify|confirm|validate} {insurance companies|insurance provider|insurer} are not {using|utilizing} {illegal|unlawful|prohibited} rate {factors|elements|aspects} to {determine|identify|figure out} {insurance|insurance coverage} premiums, and {a new|a brand-new} {fraud|scams} {investigation|examination} {unit|system} will {investigate|examine} {fraudulent|deceptive|deceitful} activity. {Auto|Car|Automobile|Vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} rates {must|should|need to} be {filed|submitted} with the DIFS {before|prior to} being {offered|provided|used} to {customers|clients|consumers}. {Insurance companies|Insurance provider|Insurer}, {agencies|companies|firms} and {licensed|certified} {agents|representatives} {may|might} {find|discover} increased fines if they {violate|break|breach} the {new|brand-new} law.
The {new|brand-new} {insurance|insurance coverage} paper work can be {confusing|puzzling} for {anyone|anybody}. {Drivers|Chauffeurs|Motorists} {should|ought to|must|need to} {consider|think about} other health/disability policies they hold {before|prior to} {choosing|selecting|picking} PIP {coverage|protection} and {verify|confirm|validate} the policy {provides|offers|supplies} {benefits|advantages} for injuries {related to|associated with|connected to} {an auto|a car|an automobile|a vehicle} {accident|mishap}.
“Do the {research|research study} with your {health insurance|medical insurance} {provider|service provider|company|supplier},” {said|stated} Klein. “It is {affecting|impacting} how {customers|clients|consumers} make their {decisions|choices}, {how much|just how much} will come out of their pocket.”
St. Louis {agrees|concurs}, talking with your {agent|representative} will {help|assist} you {navigate|browse} through the {change|modification} in {insurance|insurance coverage}.
“{Talk to|Speak with|Speak to|Talk with} your {agent|representative} on the {new|brand-new} laws and how the laws can {affect|impact} you,” {said|stated} St. Louis. “Make the {right|best|ideal} {choice|option} according to the medical {coverage|protection} you have.”
Compare {premiums, {limits|limitations}, and deductibles|premiums, deductibles, and {limits|limitations}|{limits|limitations}, premiums, and deductibles|{limits|limitations}, deductibles, and premiums|deductibles, premiums, and {limits|limitations}|deductibles, {limits|limitations}, and premiums} to {ensure|guarantee|make sure} quotes are {comparable|similar|equivalent} {between|in between} {insurance companies|insurance provider|insurer}. {Refer to|Describe} your policy {contract|agreement} and ask your {agent|representative}.
“That’s what we’re here for, {customer service|customer support|customer care|client service}. {Call and stop|Stop and call} in at any time,” St. Louis {said|stated}.
DIFS’ no-fault hotline, 833-275-3437, is {available|offered|readily available} Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For {further|additional|more} {information|info|details} {email|e-mail} autoinsurance@michigan.gov, or {visit|go to|check out|see} www.michigan.gov/autoinsurance for {details|information}, a schedule of weekly {town halls|city center}, and {instructional|training|educational} videos on how to {fill out|complete|submit} {forms|types|kinds}.
Source: dailypress.net