Understanding your coverages!

Do you know the difference between uninsured motorist coverage and med pay?  Insurance can be confusing enough without all the different coverages.  But in fact, that’s what your policy is, different pieces of coverage that make up the whole policy.  Knowing what some of those parts are can help you decide if you have exactly what you need.  The following is a comparison of two parts that are often confused with each other.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

If you are involved in an auto accident and the other person is at fault, his/her liability insurance is what takes care of the bills if you get hurt.  If they don’t have liability insurance, your Uninsured Motorist Coverage is designed to pay you for medical bills, pain and suffering, as well as a percentage of lost wages.  It is a coverage you add to your policy that applies to every vehicle on that policy, as well as to every person in your household. This coverage actually follows you wherever you go.  You could be sitting at the 7-eleven and a car could drive through the store (don’t laugh, it’s happened before!) and your UM coverage would take care of you if the driver did not have any insurance.  Do you ride a bicycle?  UM will also cover you if you get hit by a passing motorist without insurance.  UM will cover the bills associated with any injury you receive as a result of a car accident.  Just remember, the other driver,  has to be at fault.  You can’t just go play in traffic!

Medical Payments (Med Pay)

This coverage pays only your medical bills regardless of who is at fault in an accident.  You choose the limit you want and it will pay up to that amount for each injured person in your vehicle.  It is especially useful to cover the cost of whatever treatments are not covered by your primary health care insurance.

These coverages can still be confusing, especially with regards to health insurance policies.  When in doubt, call your agent.  We would be happy to explain these coverages and help you decide what’s right for you.

Here are some other interesting facts you may not have known:

Did you know that in Topeka, Kansas it is unlawful to transport dead poultry along Kansas Avenue?  But what if you wanted KFC for lunch???

In Scituate, Rhode Island it is illegal to drive with beer in your vehicle even if it is unopened.  So, how do they stock the liquor stores?

Did you know that a woman invented the carburetor and the electronic ignition?  Take that, guys!

Be safe out there!