Does Health Insurance Cover Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

January 22, 2024

Colbert Cooper Hill Attorneys

A motorcycle driver stopped on the road and holding his phone after a motorcycle accident

You went out for a ride on your motorcycle, enjoying some fresh air and a nice breeze. But things took a turn for the worse, and now you’re suffering from motorcycle accident injuries.

The good news is that most health insurance companies will cover your motorcycle accident injuries. However, it’s a good idea to double check—some health insurance policies specifically exclude injuries caused by “high risk activities,” which may include motorcycle accidents.

Furthermore, there are several other types of insurance that may cover your medical expenses, as well as other damages that you suffered in your accident. Talk to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to find out the best course of action for your specific case.

Health Insurance vs. Motorcycle Insurance

When you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Oklahoma, the at-fault rules determine who is responsible for the damages. That means if you get hurt in a motorcycle crash that was another driver’s fault, their auto insurance company is responsible to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other injury damages.

But in order to get a fair settlement, you need to prove that the other driver was truly at fault. You also need an accurate estimate of the amount of damages you actually suffered. This process can take months or even years, and in the meantime you have medical bills to pay. Can you use your health insurance?

Absolutely. In fact, it’s a good idea to have your health insurance company cover your medical expenses. If you let your bills pile up while waiting for your motorcycle insurance company to approve your claim, the bills can go to collections and affect your credit score.

However, you will owe all the co-pays and deductibles charged by your health insurance provider. Your out-of-pocket maximum may be thousands of dollars. Not to mention the fact that your health insurance policy can only cover your medical treatments—it won’t help you with any non-medical costs like property damage, lost wages, or pain and suffering. In motorcycle accidents, these damages can often be costly, running from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your health insurance company may not cover something like occupational therapy either.

This is why it is important to file a claim with the right insurance company when you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident.

Insurance Coverage Beyond Your Health Insurance

A woman on the phone discussing a motorcycle accident

Your health insurance plan should serve as a short-term solution while you wait for auto insurance to analyze your claim. Auto insurance will often wait until you’ve fully recovered from your motorcycle accident so that the full extent of your medical expenses are known.

Car insurance policies can vary widely, and the coverage may not be enough for your damages. Because a motorcycle accident can cause severe injuries and high expenses, it’s not too hard to exceed the policy limits if you or the at-fault driver only have liability coverage. This is where things can get complicated. Let’s review the different ways insurance can cover your claim.

The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance

If another driver was at fault for your motorcycle crash, their insurance company is responsible for paying your damages. You can expect their insurance company to cover your property damage, lost wages, and medical treatments. They should reimburse you for any co-pays or deductibles you paid to your health insurance provider.

Motorcycle injuries can be severe and often leave people with permanent scarring and trauma. When an accident leaves you disfigured, disabled, or permanently changed, you are often entitled to pain and suffering damages.

For motorcycle accident victims these can be quite high, and you may exceed the policy limits.

Your Own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Under Oklahoma law, drivers are only required to carry $25,000 per injury (and $50,000 per accident) in injury liability coverage. Because motorcycle injuries are often severe, damages can easily exceed these policy limits.

If the at-fault driver is not carrying insurance (or enough insurance), you may be able to file a claim against your own motorcycle insurance company if it includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).

Essentially, this form of coverage stands in place of the at-fault driver’s liability coverage if it’s unavailable or insufficient. However, because it stands in for another driver’s liability coverage, UM/UIM will only pay out if you were not at fault for the crash.

Medical Payments Coverage

In addition to UM/UIM coverage, your own motorcycle insurance may also include medical payments coverage (MedPay). This medical insurance covers your medical bills, health insurance co-pays and deductible, and even your dentist bills as related to the accident. People often choose to carry coverage up to the limit of their health insurance deductible, so that they can use MedPay to cover their out-of-pocket costs.

Notably, MedPay provides coverage no matter who was at fault. You don’t have to prove that the other driver caused the crash; you only have to show that your medical care was for crash-related injuries.

Don’t Try to Make Sense of Insurance Alone

After a motorcycle accident, it can be complicated to untangle the web of different insurances that are available. Plus, every insurance company—even your health insurance company—is trying to protect their bottom line.

Use your health insurance policy to cover your injuries after your motorcycle crash. But also: call a motorcycle accident lawyer for help. Your lawyer can investigate the crash and uncover evidence to establish who was at fault. Then they can take on the hard work of assessing insurance policies to determine who should pay out to cover your damages. They can explain the coverage to you so that you understand what may be covered by one policy but not another, and tell you what your legal options are for seeking compensation.

Your lawyer will also work with the insurance companies, negotiating on your behalf to get you the best possible motorcycle accident settlement for your injuries. When you need a team of experienced motorcycle accident lawyers on your side, you should call the Wolf Pack™.

The Wolf Pack™ Can Help You With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

You’re dealing with a lot of stress, pain, and financial worries—and your health insurance alone may not be enough to get you back on your feet. That’s why the Wolf Pack™ is here to help you recover from your motorcycle accident injuries. We have extensive experience with Oklahoma insurance requirements and policies, and can find out the best options for your financial recovery from the accident.

Since every accident victim’s situation is different, we offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Call at (580) 271-9672 or fill out our online contact form today to get started. We have convenient offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Ardmore.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.