Know Your Auto Insurance Rights
If you've been injured in an auto accident, you'll be glad to know that your
Colorado auto insurance policy covers chiropractic care in addition to other
care you may require. Your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit provides
payment for health care required after an auto accident for up to five years.
In addition, you are entitled to rehabilitation benefits and occupational rehab
if needed for up to ten years following the date of the accident. Conditions
related to your whiplash injury, such as TMJ, closed head injuries, and visual
and auditory problems are now specifically covered under the auto insurance
law passed in 1996.
If your policy contains a "cost containment" provision, (which you
must have signed for prior to the accident) you may be required to see a health
care provider on the insurance company's Preferred Provider list. If you elect
to see a doctor NOT on the insurance company's list, your benefits may be subject
to penalty provisions, such as payment of a co-payment and/or a deductible of
up to $1000. If you've not yet had an accident, you should check your policy
to see what type of restrictions would apply to you in the event of an accident.
You should carefully consider whether the premium savings resulting from the
cost containment option (approximately $35 per year) would offset the various
limits and restrictions you would incur if you were involved in an accident.
As a PIP patient, you also have other rights under the new law. Your insurance
company must advise you of these rights upon your notifying them that an accident
has occurred. You must be provided with all necessary deadlines and phone numbers
for processing your claim. Your insurance company cannot raise your rates because
you have submitted a claim for PIP benefits if the accident was not your fault.
Your insurance policy is there to protect you. It is a contract, for which you
pay premiums in exchange for the insurance company's promise to pay your PIP
and other benefits in the event of an accident. You should know your rights
under the law and insist upon them during any kind of claim process. You may
also contact the Colorado Department of Insurance if you have concerns about
your rights.
